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VETS2015 Veterinary Conservation Biology > Terrestrial Australian Mammals > Flashcards

Terrestrial Australian Mammals Flashcards

1
Q

What is a species?

A

Species concept - two organisms should be capable of breeding

Debate is ongoing and essential for designating the endangered list

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2
Q

Mammalian Evolution

A
  • Strong evidence they evolved from reptiles (transitional forms)
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3
Q

Prototheria

A

Monotremes

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4
Q

Metatheria

A

Marsupials

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5
Q

Eutheria

A

“Placentals”

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6
Q

Remaining mammalian groups

A

Most early mammalian groups are extinct, those remaining are:
Monotremes (Prototheria)
Marsupials (Metatheria)
Placentals (Eutheria)

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7
Q

All living mammals are distinguishable from reptiles by:

A

Homeothermy
Suckling of young
Body hair
Presence of muscular diaphragm

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8
Q

Australian mammalian origins

A

Native AUS mammals are derived from at least 2 sources:

  1. Marsupials and monotremes that were on the continent when it broke free of Antarctica
  2. Eutherian mammals came by island hopping
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9
Q

What are the two recognised marsupial cohorts

A
  1. Australidelphia - found in AUD and PNG

2. Ameridelphia - found in the Americas

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10
Q

Most easily recognisable differences between Australidelphia and Ameridelphia

A
  • Structure of tarsal bones

- Blood proteins, DNA and sperm morphology

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11
Q

Possible evolutionary link between Australidelphia and Ameridelphia

A

Mountain monkey found in Chile

Relationship with Australidelphia and Ameridelphia is disputed

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12
Q

Four orders of Australidelphia

A
  1. Dasyuromorphia
  2. Peramelemorphia
  3. Diprotodontia
  4. Notoryctenorphia
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13
Q

Common morphological features of Marsupials

A
  • Reproductive traits
  • Slightly lower body temp & metabolic rate
  • Brain usually smaller
  • Opposable 1st digit on hind feet
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14
Q

Marsupial morphology

A

General mammalian features with modifications reflecting function e.g. diet, locomotion

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15
Q

Define polyprotodont

A

Multiple pairs of lower incisors

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16
Q

Define Diprotodont

A

One pair of incisors in the lower jaw

17
Q

Define -dactyl

A

Suffix that indicates “fingers or toes of a particular type or number”

18
Q

Define syndactyly

A

The normal occurrence of having 2 or more fused digits in mammal species

(common in marsupials between digits II and III on the hindfoot)

19
Q

Dasyuromorphia

A
  • Carnivorous or insectivorous marsupials
  • Polyprotodont
  • NO syndactyly
  • Non-prehensile tale

e.g. Tiger quoll, Tasmanian Devil

20
Q

Peramelemorphia

A

(Bandicoots and bilbies)

  • Omnivorous
  • Long, pointed heads, compact bodies
  • Syndactyly present
  • Non-prehensile tail

e.g. Southern brown bandicoot

21
Q

Notoryctemorphia

A

(Marsupial mole)

  • Insectivorous/carnivorous
  • Polyprotodont
  • Blind (eyes = nonfunctional buds beneath skin)
  • Absence of external ears
  • Tubular body form
  • Forelimb short and powerful for digging
  • Tail shortened and very strong
22
Q

Diprotodontia

A

(Koala, wombats, possums and macropods)

  • Herbivorous or omnivorous
  • Diprotodont
  • Non-prehensile tail
  • two subforms: Vombatiformes and Phalangerida
23
Q

Vombatiformes

A
  • Subform of Diprotodontia (koalas and wombats)
  • No tail
  • Adaptations for climbing or burrowing
  • Rearward opening pouch
24
Q

Phalangerida

A
  • Subform of Diprotodontia (possums, rat-kangaroos and kangaroos)
- Four superfamilies:
Possums and gliders:
1. Phalangeroidea
2. Burramyoidae  
3. Petauroidea
Kangaroos and relatives
4. Macropodoidea
25
Q

Phalangeroidea

A
  • Superfamily of Diprotodontia
  • Short face, eyes directly forward
  • Long prehensile tail
  • Arboreal (live in trees)
  • Folivorous (eats foliage)/herbivores

e.g. Brushtail possum

26
Q

Burramyoidae

A
  • Superfamily of Diprotodontia
  • Smallest of possums
  • Long prehensile tail
  • Arboreal
  • Insectivorous

e.g. Pygmy possums

27
Q

Petauroidea

A
  • Superfamily of Diprotodontia
  • Extreme morphological and ecological diversity
  • Arboreal
  • Dietary specialists - variations in dentition and GIT anatomy

e.g. Ring-tail possum

28
Q

Macropodoidea

A
  • Superfamily of Diprotodontia
  • Strong, powerful hindlimbs and long hindfeet
  • Adaptations to hopping lifestyle
  • Syndactyly, with no opposable first digit
  • Terrestrial
  • Essentially herbivorous

Kangaroos, wallabies, rat-kangaroos

29
Q

Adaptations for hopping lifestyle

A
  • Large, well-defined hind limbs
  • Fourth toe very long and large
  • Long, slender calcaneal (Achillies) tendons
  • Very efficient at high speeds

VETS2015 Veterinary Conservation Biology (10 decks)

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