1
Q
What are the key characteristics of Order Monotremata?
A
- Edentuate
- Complete zygomatic arch
- Cloaca
- Oviparous
- Males with baculum (penis bone)
- No teats
- Epipubic bones (pair of bones projecting from the pelvis)
2
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Monotremata
- Family Tachyglossidae
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3
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Monotremata
- Family Ornithorhynchidae
- No external pinnae
- Electroreceptors on bill (sensory function, detect muscle contractions in prey)
- Teeth replaced with horny pads
- Semiaquatic, semifossorial
- Born with tooth buttons (lost)
- Milk from pores on belly
- Males with large venomous spur on hind foot (mating competition)
- Can fold back webbing on forefeet to help with crawling on land
- One of four extant poisonous mammals
4
Q
What are the characteristics of the Metatheria?
A
- Small brain case
- Angular process of dentary is inflected (goes towards tongue) - except in koalas
- In most, jugal contributes to mandibular fossa
- Fenestrated palate
- Often lack auditory bullae
- Brief gestation period
- 50% of species with a permanent marsupium (derived characteristic)
- Bifurcated reproductive tract (forked)
- Epipubic bones (may support pouch, potentially involved in locomotion)
5
Q
Order
Family
Key Characteristics
A
- Infraclass Metatheria
- Order Didelmorphia
- Family Didelphidae
- 5 upper incisors with well developed canines (5/4) (number of incisors never matches in top and bottom jaw)
- Polyprotodont (more than 4 incisors (eutherians never have more than 3))
- Hallux (opposable thumb) is clawless
- Didactylous (independent digits with no fusion)
- Play dead when threatened
- Dilambdodont molars
- Omnivorous
- Prehensile tails (grasp with tail)
6
Q
What are the key characteristics of Order Dasyuromorphia?
A
- Tasmanian devil and numbats
- 4 upper incisors (polyprotodont)
- Canines well-developed
- Carnassial teeth (shearing)
- Didactylous
- Non-prehensile tail
- Carnivorous or insectivorous
- Endemic to Australian faunal region
7
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Dasyuromorphia
- Family Dasyuridae (also includes Tasmanian devil)
- Nocturnal, solitary scavengers or hunt for invertebrates or other small prey
- Pelage plain or spotted
8
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Dasyuromorphia
- Family Myrmecobiidae
- Numbats (specimen in lab is skull of marsupial anteater - fragile)
- Teeth widely separated
- Pelage dark, with 6-9 pale, transverse bands
- No marsupium - young cling to mother’s hair while hanging from teats
- Long, sticky tongue for termites and ants (myrmecophagy)
9
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Noctoryctemorphia
- Family Noctoryctidae
- Marsupial mole
- Specimen in lab is in a jar, has small tail, visible eyes
- Fossorial (leave no permanent burrow)
- Syndactylous
- Polyprotodont
- Zalambdodont
- Insectivorous
- No externally visible eyes, pinnae
10
Q
What are the key characteristics of order Diprotodontia?
A
- Diprotodont (two procumbent lower incisors) - compared to polyprotodont (multiple lower incisors)
- Marsupium always present
- Syndactylous
11
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Diprotodontia
- Family Phascolarctidae (Koalas)
- Herbivorous - well-developed stomach and gastric gland allow feeding on toxic eucalyptus
- Slow metabolism reduces need for food
- Marsupium opens posteriorly
- 3 upper incisors
- Close-rooted teeth
- Angular process not inflected
- Arboreal
12
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Diprotodontia
- Family Macropodidae (kangaroos and wallabies)
- Hind legs are longer than fore legs
- Long, tapering tail with stout base for saltation
- Herbivorous
- Mostly terrestrial, tree kangaroos are semi-arboreal
- Canines small/absent
- Diastema
- Hypsodont
- Mesial drift in teeth
- Saltatorial locomotion (ricochetal = 2-foot jumping)
13
Q
Order
Family
Characteristics
A
- Order Diprotodontia
- Family Acrobatidae
- Marsupial gliders
- World’s smallest gliders - lab specimens are very small, fragile skeletons
- Patagium
- Long, stiff, feather-like hairs on lateral side of tail
- Nocturnal habitat generalist
- Bunodont (rounded, low-crown teeth for crushing and grinding)
- Nectivorous and insectivorous
14
Q
Order
Family
Key characteristics
A
- Order Diprotodontia
- Family Potoridae
- Premolars 1/1 - note: anterior premolar = Plagiaulacoid (elongated, blade-like tooth with vertical grooves)
- Well-developed upper canines
- Carnassial premolar
- Hind legs > forelegs
- Primarily fungivorous
ZOOL 408
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Decks in class (12)
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