List of adaptive radiated marsupials by form

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This is a list of adaptive radiated marsupials by form; they are adaptively radiated marsupial species equivalent to the many niche-types of non-marsupial mammals. Many of the surviving species are from Australia. There are unique types, for example the extinct genus Nototherium , a 'rhinoceros-type'. [1]

Contents

The new world has the common opossum, also a unique form. [2]

Even before the mid-19th century and Charles Darwin's time, biogeographers understood speciation and animal niches. A supreme example that became known to Darwin as sailing ships traveled the world is the New Zealand flightless, ground-dwelling, worm-eating kiwi, a bird, but a species in a mammal-niche.

Anteater-like

1 genus–(monotypic)
(2 subspecies)

Anteater-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(anteater-like)

  1. M. fasciatus
    (2 subspecies)
 Western Australia
(2 subspecies)
Numbat, also called0 the banded anteater Numbat.jpg
Numbat, also called0 the banded anteater

Cat-like

1 genus–(6 species)

Cat-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(cat-like)

  1. D. albopunctatus
  2. D. geoffroii
  3. D. hallucatus
  4. D. maculatus
  5. D. spartacus
  6. D. viverrinus
Australia, New Guinea
Tiger quoll Dasyurus maculatus.jpg
Tiger quoll

Groundhog-like

6 genera
2 surviving genera

Groundhog-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(groundhog-like)

  1. 6 genera
Common wombat Vombatus ursinus -Maria Island National Park.jpg
Common wombat

Mole-like

1 genus–(2 species)

Mole-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(mole-like)

  1. N. caurinus
  2. N. typhlops
Marsupial mole Kret workowaty.jpg
Marsupial mole

Rhinoceros-like

1 genus

Rhinoceros-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(rhinoceros-like)

Extinct
Nototherium Nothotherium mitchelli.jpg
Nototherium

Panther-like

6 genera

Panther-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(panther-like)

  1. †Priscileo pitikantensis (Upper Oligocene)
  2. †Priscileo roskellyae (Middle Miocene)
Subfamily Wakaleoninae
Genus †Wakaleo
  1. †Wakaleo alcootaensis (Upper Miocene)
  2. †Wakaleo oldfieldi (Lower—Upper Miocene)
  3. †Wakaleo vanderleueri (Middle—Upper Miocene)
Subfamily Thylacoleoninae
Genus †Thylacoleo
  1. †Thylacoleo carnifex (Pleistocene)
  2. †Thylacoleo crassidentatus (Pliocene)
  3. †Thylacoleo hilli (Pliocene)
Extinct
Thylacoleo Thylacoleo BW.jpg
Thylacoleo

Flying Squirrel-like

1 genus–(6 species)

Flying Squirrel-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(flying squirrel-like)

  1. P. abidi
  2. P. australis
  3. P. biacensis
  4. P. breviceps
  5. P. gracilis
  6. P. norfolcensis
Sugar glider Sugies03 hp.jpg
Sugar glider

Canine-like

1 genus–(1 species)

canine-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(canine-like)

  1. T. cynocephalus
Extinct
Thylacine, also called Tasmanian wolf or tiger Thylacinus.jpg
Thylacine, also called Tasmanian wolf or tiger

Hyena-like

1 genus–(1 species)

Hyena-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(hyena-like)

  1. S. harrisii
Extirpated
from mainland
(Tasmania only)
Tasmanian devil Tasdevil large.jpg
Tasmanian devil

Deer-like

Unique: opossum-like

? species

Unique— Opossum-like marsupials
TaxaPresenceNotesImages

Marsupial:
(opossum-like)

  1. Many genera
Virginia opossum Opossum 2.jpg
Virginia opossum

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Chapter: Biogeography, Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials, p. 854-855.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Chapter: Biogeography, Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials, p. 854-855.
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