Rodentia Flashcards
1. Have an appreciation for the diversity of eutherian mammals in Australia 2. Describe the three broadly classified groups of rodents, their diversity and generalised distribution 3. Describe how the native rodent fauna arrived in Australia 4. Discuss ways in which native and non-native rodents can be distinguished from one another, and how rodents can be distinguished from marsupials of similar size
1
Q
3 Broad Groups
A
1) Australian Old Endemics
- almost exclusive to Aus
2) Papuan Old Endemics
- shared with New Guinea
3) Australo- Papuan New Endemics
Single genus (Rattus) shared
with Asia
2
Q
All aussie rodents are from the family ___
A
Muridae
3
Q
How did the native rodent fauna arrive in Australia
A
- Rodents evolved in South Asia ~15mya
- Arrived in Australia ~4-5mya by “island hopping”
4
Q
four major evolutionary branches of Aus Old Endemics
A
- “Tree rats” and “stick-nest rats”
- “Rock rats”
- “Short-tailed mice”
- “Native rats and mice”
5
Q
Discuss ways in which native and non-native rodents can be distinguished from one another
A
Rodents have:
- 2 openings for rectum and urogenital system
- No canines/ premolars, 1 pair of upper + lower incisors
- No pouch
- Scrotum caudal to penis
- Loss of syndactyly
6
Q
Introduced Aus species
A
- Mus musculus
- Rattus rattus
- Rattus norvegius
