DOCSLIB.ORG

'Shrew‐Like' Opossums

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
'Shrew‐Like' Opossums View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by SEDICI - Repositorio de la UNLP [Palaeontology, Vol. 50, Part 5, 2007, pp. 1267-1276] A NEW GENERALIZED PAUCITUBERCULATAN MARSUPIAL FROM THE OLIGOCENE OF BOLIVIA AND THE ORIGIN OF ‘SHREW-LIKE’ OPOSSUMS fry FRANCISCO J. GOIN*, MARCELO R. SÁNCHEZ-VILLAGRAf, ALEJANDRA ABELLO* and RICHARD F. KAYJ *División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina; e-mail: [email protected] ■¡■Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; current address: Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Karl Schmid Straße 4, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland; e-mail: [email protected] ^Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3170, Durham, NC 27710, USA Typescript received 1 April 2006; accepted in revised form 26 October 2006 Abstract: Insights into the origin of ‘shrew-like’ oposssums lysis including representatives of the Caenolestidae, Pichipilus of South America are gained thanks to a new fossil from the and allies (not regarded here as caenolestids), Palaeothentidae, Oligocene Salla Beds in Bolivia. The specimen described here and Abderitidae, with three outgroups. Evolestes is the basal- consists of a partial rostrum, palate and postcanine teeth, and most ‘caenolestoid’, and provides clues to the morphological shows several generalized features (cranial and dental) in the changes involved in the origin of caenolestids. context of the Paucituberculata. On this basis we recognize Evolestes hadrommatos gen. et sp. nov. In order to evaluate the Key words: Metatheria, Marsupialia, Caenolestidae, Abde­ affinities of the new taxon, we performed a phylogenetic ana- ritidae, Palaeothentidae, South America, anatomy. Most of the fossil record of paucituberculatan marsupi­ fossil provides important information for reconstructing als consists of highly derived forms that illustrate the the last common ancestor of the Paucituberculata, the sis­ great extent of ecomorphological diversity attained by this ter group to the Australidelphia. The stratigraphical distri­ clade in the Cenozoic of South America (Bown and Flea­ bution of the genera considered in the phylogenetic gle 1993; Rae et al. 1996; Goin et al. 2003). Such richness analysis conducted in this study, and mentioned in com­ contrasts with the diversity and distribution of living pau- parisons, is listed in Table 1. Molar nomenclature follows cituberculatans (Caenolestidae), of which two or three Goin et al. (2003). The generalized metatherian dental genera and a handful of species of restricted Andean dis­ formula is assumed to be: I/i 5/4, C/c 1/1, P/p 3/3, M/m tribution exist (Bublitz 1987). These are the ‘shrew-like’ 4/4. The new specimen is housed in the Museo Nacional opossums, so-called because of their small size and insect- de Historia Natural, La Paz, Bolivia (MNHN-Bol). ivorous-faunivorous habits. The position of Caenolestidae in marsupial phylogeny has been a matter of long debate (Kirsch et al. 1997), but there is a growing consensus that SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY they represent a clade second to South American opos­ sums (didelphids) in a pectinate phylogeny, being the sis­ MARSUPIALIA liliger, 1811 ter group to the diverse australidelphian radiation. This PAUCITUBERCULATA Ameghino, 1894 consensus is supported by both morphological (Horovitz and Sanchez-Villagra 2003) and molecular data (Amrine- Genus EVOLESTES gen. nov. Madsen et al. 2003; Nilsson et al. 2004; Phillips et al. 2006), as well as by combined analyses of the two (Asher Derivation of name. Evo, referring to evolution, because of the et al. 2004). importance of this fossil in showing the morphological changes Here we describe a fossil representing a new genus and involving the origin of a marsupial clade; Latin, lestes, thief, species of a ‘caenolestoid’, which provides insights into the pirate and, by extension, carnivorous (Greek, lestikos), a term that characterizes the generic name of several fossil and living phylogeny of the group and the origin of some of the mor­ Paucituberculata. phological specializations of shrew-like opossums. This © The Palaeontological Association doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00706.x 1267 1268 PALAEONTOLOGY, VOLUME 50 TABLE 1. Stratigraphical distribution of the genera considered in the phylogenetic analysis conducted in this study and mentioned in comparisons. Taxon Age Reference Turgidodon Lancian NALMA (Late Cretaceous) Case et al. (2005) Pucadelphys Tiupampan SALMA (Early Palaeocene) Muizon (1991) Derorhyncus Itaboraian SALMA (Late Palaeocene) Marshall (1987) Stilotherium Santacrucian SALMA (Middle Miocene) Marshall (1980) Pliolestes Montehermosan SALMA (Early Pliocene) Marshall (1980) Pichipilus Colhuehuapian-Santacrucian SALMA Marshall (1980) Phonocdromus Colhuehuapian-Santacrucian SALMA Marshall (1980) Palaeothentes Colhuehuapian-Santacrucian SALMA Bown and Fleagle (1993) Acdestis Santacrucian SALMA Marshall (1980) Abderites Colhuehuapian-Santacrucian SALMA Marshall (1980) Rhyncholestes Recent Patterson and Gallardo (1987) Lestoros Recent Marshall (1977) Caenolestes Recent Bublitz (1987) Type species. Evolestes hadrommatos sp. nov. Length M1-M3, 5-06 Length M1-M4, 5-98* Diagnosis. As for the type and only known species. Length Ml, 1-84 Width Ml, 1-72* Length M2, 1-95 Width M2, 2-12 Evolestes hadrommatos sp. nov. Length M3, 1-19 Text-figures 1-3 Width M3, 1-71 Length P3, 1-75 Derivation of name. Greek, hadros, well developed, strong, and Width P3, 0-62 ommatos, eye, implying that the type species has larger orbits Length P2 (alveolus), 1-54* than those of living caenolestids. Length Pl (alveolus), 0-97* Type. MNHN-Bol 96-400, a fragment of a skull preserving part Diagnosis. Differs from all other Paucituberculata in that of the rostrum, palate and skull roof; on the left side alveoli and the upper molars have a less-developed, ‘hypocone-like’ roots of the canine of Pl and of M4, fragmentary P2-M1 and metaconule. Differs from the Caenolestidae in having a complete M2-3; alveoli and roots of the right C-Pl (Text­ figs 1-2). shorter rostrum, larger orbits that are more dorsally placed; upper molars have a well-developed postmetacri- Hypodigm. The type only. sta, smaller stylar cusp D (StD), and the paracone and metacone are proportionally less coupled to stylar cusp B Occurrence. Salla Beds, an alluvial fill of a basin cut into (StB) and stylar cusp D (StD), respectively. Differs from deformed Palaeozoic strata at the edge of the eastern Andean the Pichipilinae in that the nasals end more anteriorly; in Cordillera of northern Bolivia (Sempere et al. 1990); stratigra­ pichipilines the protocone and metaconule are placed phic level 6 at Tapial Pampa. Kay et al. (1995) reported more posteriorly in relation to StB and StD, making the Ar40/Ar39 dates bracketing stratigraphic levels 5 and 6 at molar more quadrangular in occlusal view. The metacone between 24-93 ± 0-50 and 24-79 ± 0-27 Ma (late Oligocene), in Evolestes is twinned with StD whereas in pichipilines confirming previous age estimates of MacFadden et al. (1985) (and some caenolestines) the metacone has moved anteri­ and Naeser et al. (1987). orly with respect to the stylar region. Ml-2 of pichipilins have the occlusal surface of the metaconule proportionally Measurements (in mm); * = estimated value. Maximum width of nasals, 5-23* smaller in relation to that of the whole tooth than in Evo­ Skull height at the level of M3, 4-81 lestes. Differs from Palaeothentidae and Abderitidae in the Rostral width at the level of canines, 4-47 anterior extension of the maxillary fenestrae (in palaeo- Rostral width at the level of M3, 9-53 thentids the maxillary fenestrae of the palatal process of Palatal width at the level of M3, 5-10* the maxilla end anteriorly at the level of Ml whereas in Length of the left maxillary fenestra, 5-44 Evolestes they do this at the level of P2; Abderitidae lack Width of the left maxillary fenestra, 0-86 maxillary fenestrae); P3 is labiolingually compressed (not Length C-M3, 11-54 GOIN ET AL.: ORIGIN OF ‘SHREW-LIKE’ POSSUMS 1269 reaching the posterior widening typical of palaeothentids oblique, i.e. more frontal. As can be seen on the left side of the and abderitids); Ml-2 have the occlusal surface of the skull, the anterior border of the orbit is not round, forming metaconule barely above the occlusal surface of the trigon instead a crest at an angle of almost 90 degrees with the distal (in palaeothentids and abderitids the metaconule surface portion of the jugal bone. In the vertix of this angle at least a single lacrimal foramen can be seen, internal to the orbit. is relatively higher); StB and StD are less labiolingually The nasals are relatively narrow in their anterior portion compressed. and have subparallel lateral borders. Starting at the maxillary constriction, the nasals expand laterally, reaching their maxi­ Description mum width at the level of the Ml. Posterior to this point, the nasals join in the middle of the dorsal skull at the level Skull. Evolestes is slightly larger and more robust than Caeno- just behind the anterior border of the orbits. They expand in lestes fuliginosus. The rostrum was long, although shorter than in the skull roof more than in any other known Paucituberculata. living caenolestids, and narrow in its anterior portion. There is a The suture between the nasal and the maxilla is more or less marked constriction in the lateral expansion of the maxilla, just round in its anterior portion. Dorsally, the contact between the anterior to the level of P2. Posterior to this point, the rostrum frontal and the lacrimal is parallel to the sagital plane of the expands laterally. Orbits are relatively large and their upper bor­ skull. ders are not parallel to the sagittal plane but instead slightly The frontal-maxilla contact is wide, much wider than in the Didelphimorphia and similar to that of other Paucituberculata.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Classification of Mammals 61
    © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FORCHAPTER SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Classification © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC 4 NOT FORof SALE MammalsOR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. 2ND PAGES 9781284032093_CH04_0060.indd 60 8/28/13 12:08 PM CHAPTER 4: Classification of Mammals 61 © Jones Despite& Bartlett their Learning,remarkable success, LLC mammals are much less© Jones stress & onBartlett the taxonomic Learning, aspect LLCof mammalogy, but rather as diverse than are most invertebrate groups. This is probably an attempt to provide students with sufficient information NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FORattributable SALE OR to theirDISTRIBUTION far greater individual size, to the high on the various kinds of mammals to make the subsequent energy requirements of endothermy, and thus to the inabil- discussions of mammalian biology meaningful.
    [Show full text]
  • A Dated Phylogeny of Marsupials Using a Molecular Supermatrix and Multiple Fossil Constraints
    Journal of Mammalogy, 89(1):175–189, 2008 A DATED PHYLOGENY OF MARSUPIALS USING A MOLECULAR SUPERMATRIX AND MULTIPLE FOSSIL CONSTRAINTS ROBIN M. D. BECK* School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/89/1/175/1020874 by guest on 25 September 2021 Phylogenetic relationships within marsupials were investigated based on a 20.1-kilobase molecular supermatrix comprising 7 nuclear and 15 mitochondrial genes analyzed using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches and 3 different partitioning strategies. The study revealed that base composition bias in the 3rd codon positions of mitochondrial genes misled even the partitioned maximum-likelihood analyses, whereas Bayesian analyses were less affected. After correcting for base composition bias, monophyly of the currently recognized marsupial orders, of Australidelphia, and of a clade comprising Dasyuromorphia, Notoryctes,and Peramelemorphia, were supported strongly by both Bayesian posterior probabilities and maximum-likelihood bootstrap values. Monophyly of the Australasian marsupials, of Notoryctes þ Dasyuromorphia, and of Caenolestes þ Australidelphia were less well supported. Within Diprotodontia, Burramyidae þ Phalangeridae received relatively strong support. Divergence dates calculated using a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock and multiple age constraints suggested at least 3 independent dispersals of marsupials from North to South America during the Late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. Within the Australasian clade, the macropodine radiation, the divergence of phascogaline and dasyurine dasyurids, and the divergence of perameline and peroryctine peramelemorphians all coincided with periods of significant environmental change during the Miocene. An analysis of ‘‘unrepresented basal branch lengths’’ suggests that the fossil record is particularly poor for didelphids and most groups within the Australasian radiation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes
    J Mammal Evol DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9062-6 ORIGINAL PAPER A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes Robert W. Meredith & Michael Westerman & Judd A. Case & Mark S. Springer # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract Even though marsupials are taxonomically less diverse than placentals, they exhibit comparable morphological and ecological diversity. However, much of their fossil record is thought to be missing, particularly for the Australasian groups. The more than 330 living species of marsupials are grouped into three American (Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata) and four Australasian (Dasyuromorphia, Diprotodontia, Notoryctemorphia, and Peramelemorphia) orders. Interordinal relationships have been investigated using a wide range of methods that have often yielded contradictory results. Much of the controversy has focused on the placement of Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria). Studies either support a sister-taxon relationship to a monophyletic Australasian clade or a nested position within the Australasian radiation. Familial relationships within the Diprotodontia have also proved difficult to resolve. Here, we examine higher-level marsupial relationships using a nuclear multigene molecular data set representing all living orders. Protein-coding portions of ApoB, BRCA1, IRBP, Rag1, and vWF were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Two different Bayesian relaxed molecular clock methods were employed to construct a timescale for marsupial evolution and estimate the unrepresented basal branch length (UBBL). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian results suggest that the root of the marsupial tree is between Didelphimorphia and all other marsupials. All methods provide strong support for the monophyly of Australidelphia. Within Australidelphia, Dromiciops is the sister-taxon to a monophyletic Australasian clade.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia. High-Latitude Paleocommunities of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio F
    Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia. High-Latitude Paleocommunities of the Santa Cruz Formation Sergio F. Vizcaino, Richard F. Kay, and M. Susana Bargo (eds.) Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2012, 370 pp. (hardback), $155.00. ISBN-13: 9780521194617. Reviewed by SUSAN CACHEL Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1414, USA; [email protected] his edited volume deals with new fossil flora and fauna of these chapters. These appendices list museum catalog Tfrom the Atlantic Coast of Patagonia, South America, numbers, along with collection area and short descriptions. dating to 18–16 mya. Two of the editors are affiliated with This volume therefore is a crucial resource for researchers the Museo de la Plata, Argentina, and a plethora of Argen- studying mammal evolution, especially for those studying tine colleagues contribute chapters and reviewed prelimi- processes like convergent evolution. New black-and-white nary drafts. The volume thus has a spectacularly interna- illustrations reconstruct details of life on the ancient land- tional authorship. Abstracts of each chapter appear in both scapes. English and Spanish. The collection of the fossils is an epic in itself. Because In contrast to the cold and dismal climate of modern fossils were embedded in sandstone beach rock in the in- Patagonia, Patagonia 18–16 mya was much warmer and hu- tertidal zone, retrieval of these specimens often entailed mid, with mixed forests and grasslands. The Andes Moun- hastily using both geological hammers and jack hammers tains were much lower in elevation, which allowed an east- to remove blocks of sediment before the tide turned, and ward expansion of habitats now found today on the lower cold Atlantic seawater again swept over the collecting area.
    [Show full text]
  • Paucituberculata: Caenolestes) from the Huancabamba Region of East Andean Peru
    Mammal Study 28: 145–148 (2003) © the Mammalogical Society of Japan Short communication Shrew opossums (Paucituberculata: Caenolestes) from the Huancabamba region of east Andean Peru Darrin P. Lunde1,* and Victor Pacheco2 1 Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy), American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West @ 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, USA 2 Curador de Mamíferos, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Apartado 14-0434, Lima, Peru Shrew opossums of the genus Caenolestes are restricted Peru north and south of the Huancabamba Depression. to the northern Andes and include four species: C. fuligi- nosus, C. convelatus, C. caniventer and C. condorensis Materials and methods (Albuja and Patterson 1996). Caenolestes fuliginosus is a highland species of the páramos of central Ecuador, Small mammal surveys were conducted in the Depar- Colombia and western Venezuela, but the remaining tamento de Cajamarca, Peru in June 1995 and June 1996. three species occur in sub-tropical montane forests at Victor and Museum Special snaptraps and Sherman live lower elevations (Albuja and Patterson 1996). Caeno- traps were baited with a 6 : 2 : 2 : 1 mixture of peanut lestes convelatus and C. caniventer are known from the butter, oatmeal, raisins and bacon. Specimens were western slopes of the Andes, the former from Colombia preserved as either dried study skins and skulls with and northern Ecuador and the latter from southern alcohol preserved carcasses, or as whole specimens that Ecuador and northern Peru (Bublitz 1987), while the were first fixed in formalin and subsequently transferred recently described Caenolestes condorensis is currently to 70% ethanol.
    [Show full text]
  • Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology
    JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 277:1469–1485 (2016) A Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Upper Forelimb Morphology in the Enigmatic Tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology Jamie A. MacLaren1* and Sandra Nauwelaerts1,2 1Department of Biology, Universiteit Antwerpen, Building D, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein, Wilrijk, Antwerp 2610, Belgium 2Centre for Research and Conservation, Koninklijke Maatschappij Voor Dierkunde (KMDA), Koningin Astridplein 26, Antwerp 2018, Belgium ABSTRACT Forelimb morphology is an indicator for order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). Modern terrestrial locomotor ecology. The limb morphology of the tapirs are widely accepted to belong to a single enigmatic tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) has often been genus (Tapirus), containing four extant species compared to that of basal perissodactyls, despite the lack (Hulbert, 1973; Ruiz-Garcıa et al., 1985) and sev- of quantitative studies comparing forelimb variation in eral regional subspecies (Padilla and Dowler, 1965; modern tapirs. Here, we present a quantitative assess- ment of tapir upper forelimb osteology using three- Wilson and Reeder, 2005): the Baird’s tapir (T. dimensional geometric morphometrics to test whether bairdii), lowland tapir (T. terrestris), mountain the four modern tapir species are monomorphic in their tapir (T. pinchaque), and the Malayan tapir (T. forelimb skeleton. The shape of the upper forelimb bones indicus). Extant tapirs primarily inhabit tropical across four species (T. indicus; T. bairdii; T. terrestris; T. rainforest, with some populations also occupying pinchaque) was investigated. Bones were laser scanned wet grassland and chaparral biomes (Padilla and to capture surface morphology and 3D landmark analysis Dowler, 1965; Padilla et al., 1996). was used to quantify shape.
    [Show full text]
  • A Species-Level Phylogenetic Supertree of Marsupials
    J. Zool., Lond. (2004) 264, 11–31 C 2004 The Zoological Society of London Printed in the United Kingdom DOI:10.1017/S0952836904005539 A species-level phylogenetic supertree of marsupials Marcel Cardillo1,2*, Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds3, Elizabeth Boakes1,2 and Andy Purvis1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, U.K. 2 Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, U.K. 3 Lehrstuhl fur¨ Tierzucht, Technical University of Munich, Alte Akademie 12, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany (Accepted 26 January 2004) Abstract Comparative studies require information on phylogenetic relationships, but complete species-level phylogenetic trees of large clades are difficult to produce. One solution is to combine algorithmically many small trees into a single, larger supertree. Here we present a virtually complete, species-level phylogeny of the marsupials (Mammalia: Metatheria), built by combining 158 phylogenetic estimates published since 1980, using matrix representation with parsimony. The supertree is well resolved overall (73.7%), although resolution varies across the tree, indicating variation both in the amount of phylogenetic information available for different taxa, and the degree of conflict among phylogenetic estimates. In particular, the supertree shows poor resolution within the American marsupial taxa, reflecting a relative lack of systematic effort compared to the Australasian taxa. There are also important differences in supertrees based on source phylogenies published before 1995 and those published more recently. The supertree can be viewed as a meta-analysis of marsupial phylogenetic studies, and should be useful as a framework for phylogenetically explicit comparative studies of marsupial evolution and ecology.
    [Show full text]
  • Heterothermy in Pouched Mammals a Review
    bs_bs_bannerJournal of Zoology Journal of Zoology. Print ISSN 0952-8369 MINI-SERIES Heterothermy in pouched mammals – a review A. Riek1,2 & F. Geiser2 1 Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany 2 Centre for Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia Keywords Abstract heterothermy; marsupials; phylogeny; torpor; hibernation. Hibernation and daily torpor (i.e. temporal heterothermy) have been reported in many marsupial species of diverse families and are known to occur in ∼15% of all Correspondence marsupials, which is a greater proportion than the percentage of heterothermic Alexander Riek, Department of Animal placentals. Therefore, we aimed to gather data on heterothermy, including Sciences, University of Göttingen, minimal body temperature, torpor metabolic rate and torpor bout duration for Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, marsupials, and relate these physiological variables to phylogeny and other Germany. Tel: +49 551 395610; Fax: +49 physiological traits. Data from published studies on 41 marsupial species were 551 39 available for the present analysis. Heterothermic marsupials ranged from small Email: [email protected] species such as planigales weighing 7 g to larger species such as quolls weighing up to 1000 g. We used the marsupial phylogeny to estimate various heterothermic Editor: Heike Lutermann traits where the current dataset was incomplete. The torpor metabolic rate in relation to basal metabolic rate (%) ranged from 5.2 to 62.8% in daily Received 13 May 2013; revised 31 July heterotherms and from 2.1 to 5.2% in marsupial hibernators, and was significantly 2013; accepted 8 August 2013 correlated with the minimum body temperature in daily heterotherms (R2 = 0.77, P < 0.001), but not in hibernators (R2 = 0.10, P > 0.05).
    [Show full text]
  • OPOSSUM Didelphis Virginiana
    OPOSSUM Didelphis virginiana The Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is the only marsupial (pouched animal) native to North America. The opossum is not a native species to Vermont, but a population has become established here. The opossum is mostly active at night, being what is referred to as ‘nocturnal.’ They are very good climbers and capable swimmers. These two skills help the opossum avoid predators. It is well known for faking death (also called ‘playing possum’) as another means of outwitting its enemies. The opossum adapts to a wide variety of habitats which has led to its widespread distribution throughout the United States. Vermont Wildlife Fact Sheet Physical Description Opossums breed every other areas near water sources. year, having one litter every They have become very The fur of the Virginia two years. Opossums reach common in urban, suburban, opossum is grayish white in the age of sexual maturity at 6 and farming areas. The color and covers the whole to 7 months. opossum is a wanderer and body except the ears and tail. does not stick to a specific They are about the size of a Food Items territory. The opossum uses large house cat, weighing abandoned burrows, tree between 9 and 13 pounds and The opossum is an cavities, hollow logs, attics, having a body length of 24 to insectivore and an omnivore. garages, or building 40 inches. The opossum has a This means they have a foundations. prehensile tail, one which is varied diet of insects, worms, adapted for grasping and fruits, nuts, and carrion (dead hanging. animals).
    [Show full text]
  • New Insights Into the Anatomy of Extinct Paucituberculatan Marsupials
    Swiss J Palaeontol DOI 10.1007/s13358-014-0063-9 An exceptionally well-preserved skeleton of Palaeothentes from the Early Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina: new insights into the anatomy of extinct paucituberculatan marsupials Analia M. Forasiepi • Marcelo R. Sa´nchez-Villagra • Thomas Schmelzle • Sandrine Ladeve`ze • Richard F. Kay Received: 8 September 2013 / Accepted: 13 February 2014 Ó Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz (SCNAT) 2014 Abstract During the Cenozoic paucituberculatans were an anterior semicircular canal (SC) projecting slightly much more diverse taxonomically and ecomorphologically dorsally from the dorsal-most point of the posterior SC, and than the three extant genera of shrew-like marsupials. lateral and posterior SCs projecting laterally to the same Among paucituberculatans, palaeothentids were abundant level. On the basis of postcranial anatomy, previous studies during the Early Miocene, although most of the fossil have demonstrated that P. lemoinei was an agile cursorial remains consist of isolated teeth or fragmentary jaws. We form, an inference supported by study of the new post- describe a new and exceptional partial skeleton of Palaeo- cranial elements. thentes lemoinei (Palaeothentidae), collected from the Santa Cruz Formation (Santacrucian age, Early Miocene) Keywords Marsupialia Á Metatheria Á Cenozoic Á in Patagonia. Whereas the skull of P. lemoinei has more South America Á Skull Á Inner ear Á Postcranium plesiomorphic traits in the face, palate, and cranial vault than that of living paucituberculatans, the dental mor- Abbreviations phology is more derived. The osseous inner ear was examined using micro-CT scanning, revealing a cochlea Institutional abbreviations with 1.9 turns, the presence of a ‘‘second crus commune’’, FMNH Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA IEEUACH Universidad Austral de Chile, A.
    [Show full text]
  • Mammals from the Mesozoic of Mongolia
    Mammals from the Mesozoic of Mongolia Introduction and Simpson (1926) dcscrihed these as placental (eutherian) insectivores. 'l'he deltathcroids originally Mongolia produces one of the world's most extraordi- included with the insectivores, more recently have narily preserved assemblages of hlesozoic ma~nmals. t)een assigned to the Metatheria (Kielan-Jaworowska Unlike fossils at most Mesozoic sites, Inany of these and Nesov, 1990). For ahout 40 years these were the remains are skulls, and in some cases these are asso- only Mesozoic ~nanimalsknown from Mongolia. ciated with postcranial skeletons. Ry contrast, 'I'he next discoveries in Mongolia were made by the Mesozoic mammals at well-known sites in North Polish-Mongolian Palaeontological Expeditions America and other continents have produced less (1963-1971) initially led by Naydin Dovchin, then by complete material, usually incomplete jaws with den- Rinchen Barsbold on the Mongolian side, and Zofia titions, or isolated teeth. In addition to the rich Kielan-Jaworowska on the Polish side, Kazi~nierz samples of skulls and skeletons representing Late Koualski led the expedition in 1964. Late Cretaceous Cretaceous mam~nals,certain localities in Mongolia ma~nmalswere collected in three Gohi Desert regions: are also known for less well preserved, but important, Bayan Zag (Djadokhta Formation), Nenlegt and remains of Early Cretaceous mammals. The mammals Khulsan in the Nemegt Valley (Baruungoyot from hoth Early and Late Cretaceous intervals have Formation), and llcrmiin 'ISav, south-\vest of the increased our understanding of diversification and Neniegt Valley, in the Red beds of Hermiin 'rsav, morphologic variation in archaic mammals. which have heen regarded as a stratigraphic ecluivalent Potentially this new information has hearing on the of the Baruungoyot Formation (Gradzinslti r't crl., phylogenetic relationships among major branches of 1977).
    [Show full text]
  • Meet a Marsupial
    Meet a Marsupial Meet a Marsupial by Kate Paixão Kangaroos, koalas, and opossums are marsupials. Marsupials are a special kind of mammal. Marsupials have hair like other mammals. They give birth to live babies. They make milk to feed their young. ReadWorks.org · © 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Meet a Marsupial But marsupials have something that makes them different from other mammals. Female marsupials have a pouch. They use this pouch to carry their babies. Marsupial babies are called joeys. A joey stays in its mother's pouch for a long time. When it is old enough, the joey gets out and can move around on its own! ReadWorks.org · © 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. ReadWorks Vocabulary - mammal mammal mam·mal Definition noun 1. an animal that has hair and feeds its babies with milk from the mother. Dogs, whales, and humans are mammals. Spanish cognate mamífero: The Spanish word mamífero means mammal. These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used: 1. Bats are mammals. Mammals are warm-blooded animals that have hair on their bodies. 2. Whales are big ocean mammals. Mammals are animals that drink milk from their mothers. 3. The African elephant is the largest living land mammal, and the ostrich is the largest living bird. 4. The only fish Liza liked were dolphins, except her teacher told her that dolphins were mammals, not fish. 5. Every dog is a mammal. All mammals have hair on their bodies. People, horses, and elephants are also mammals. 6. The Mississippi is home to all kinds of animals.
    [Show full text]