Monotremes and Marsupials

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MAMMALOGY IB 462 SYSTEMATIC SURVEY OF THE ORDERS AND FAMILIES, PART I A study aid to help with the taxa you need to know for the lab practicals MONOTREMES ORDER MONOTREMATA Family Tachyglossidae “Fast tongue” Range: Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea Genus to know: Tachyglossus (Echidna) Family Ornithorhynchidae “Bird nose” Range: E. Australia and Tasmania Genus to know: Ornithorhynchus (Platypus) MARSUPIALS KEY TRAIT: INFLECTED ANGULAR PROCESS ORDER DIDELPHIMORPHIA Family Didelphidae Range: United States south through South America Genera to know: Didelphis (Virginia opossum), Marmosa (Mouse opossum), Philander (Four-eyed opossum) Key trait: Incisors 5/4 Didelphis Note: Extreme sagittal crest Marmosa Philander ORDER DASYUROMORPHIA Family Dasyuridae Range: Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea Genera to know: Dasyurus (Quoll, marsupial cat), Sarcophilus (Tasmanian devil) Key Trait: Incisors 4/3 Dasyurus Note: Pronounced occipital crest Dasyurus Sarcophilus Family Myrmecobiidae Range: W. Australia Genus to know: Myrmecobius (Numbat) Key Traits: Reduced zygomatic arch Spherical auditory bullae Flat sagittal crest Long snout with many small, widely-spaced teeth ORDER PERAMELEMORPHIA Range: Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea Family to know: Peramelidae Genus to know: Isodon Key traits: • Incisors 4-5/3 • Hind feet syndactylous • Rostrum long and slender • Skull flattened Isodon Isodon ORDER DIPROTODONTIA Key trait: 2 large, forward- protruding lower incisors Family Phascolarctidae Range: E. and SE Australia Genus to know: Phascolarctos (Koala) Key Traits: Incisors 3/1 *Largest caecum for body size (Eucalyptus diet) Phascolarctos Family Vombatidae Range: SE Australia and Tasmania Genus to know: Vombatus (Wombat) Key Trait: Incisors 1/1 Note: Reduced auditory bullae Vombatus Family Phalangeridae Range: Australian forests Possums and cuscuses (only need to know family) Example in lab: brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus Trichosurus (Phalangeridae; brush-tailed possum) skulls Family Pseudocheiridae Range: Australian forests Ringtail possums and greater gliders (only need to know family) Example from lab: Greater glider, Petauroides Greater glider (Petauroides, Pseudocheiridae) skull Family Petauridae Range: forests of northern and eastern Australia Small gliders, striped possum, Leadbeater’s possum Genus to know: Petaurus (sugar glider) All have black stripe on head Petaurus Family Acrobatidae Range: E. Australia wooded habitats Genus to know: Acrobates (Feathertail glider) Note: extended lower incisors Acrobates Family Macropodidae Range: Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea Genus to know: Macropus (Kangaroo) Key Trait: Incisors 3/1 Macropus Note: Extended paraoccipital processes; deep depression in masseteric fossa .

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Red-Necked Wallaby (Bennett’S Wallaby) Macropus Rufogriseus
Red-necked Wallaby (Bennett’s Wallaby) Macropus rufogriseus Class: Mammalia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Macropodidae Characteristics: Red-necked wallabies get their name from the red fur on the back of their neck. They are also differentiated from other wallabies by the white cheek patches and larger size compared to other wallaby species (Bioweb). The red-necked wallaby’s body fur is grey to reddish in color with a white or pale grey belly. Their muzzle, paws and toes are black (Australia Zoo). Wallabies look like smaller kangaroos with their large hindquarters, short forelimbs, and long, muscular tails. The average size of this species is 27-32 inches in the body with a tail length of 20-28 inches. The females weigh about 25 pounds while the males weigh significantly more at 40 pounds. The females differ from the males of the species in that they have a forward opening pouch (Sacramento Zoo). Range & Habitat: Flat, high-ground eucalyptus Behavior: Red-necked wallabies are most active at dawn and dusk to avoid forests near open grassy areas in the mid-day heat. In the heat, they will lick their hands and forearms to Tasmania and South-eastern promote heat loss. (Animal Diversity) These wallabies are generally solitary Australia. but do forage in small groups. The males will have boxing matches with one another to determine social hierarchy within populations. They can often be seen punching, wrestling, skipping, dancing, standing upright, grabbing, sparring, pawing, and kicking. All members of the kangaroo and wallaby family travel by hopping. Red-necked wallabies can hop up to 6 feet in the air.
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Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus Occidentalis) Recovery Plan
Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) Recovery Plan Wildlife Management Program No. 58 Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife October 2014 Wildlife Management Program No. 58 Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) Recovery Plan October 2014 Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983 Foreword Recovery plans are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Parks and Wildlife Policy Statements Nos. 44 and 50 (CALM 1992, 1994), and the Australian Government Department of the Environment’s Recovery Planning Compliance Checklist for Legislative and Process Requirements (DEWHA 2008). Recovery plans outline the recovery actions that are needed to urgently address those threatening processes most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened taxa or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process. Recovery plans are a partnership between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The Department of Parks and Wildlife acknowledges the role of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Department of the Environment in guiding the implementation of this recovery plan. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds necessary to implement actions are subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. This recovery plan was approved by the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in status of the taxon or ecological community, and the completion of recovery actions. Information in this recovery plan was accurate as of October 2014.
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Lindsay Masters
CHARACTERISATION OF EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED AND SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRING DISEASE WITHIN CAPTIVE BRED DASYURIDS Scott Andrew Lindsay A thesis submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the postgraduate degree of Masters of Veterinary Science Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Sydney March 2014 STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY Apart from assistance acknowledged, this thesis represents the unaided work of the author. The text of this thesis contains no material previously published or written unless due reference to this material is made. This work has neither been presented nor is currently being presented for any other degree. Scott Lindsay 30 March 2014. i SUMMARY Neosporosis is a disease of worldwide distribution resulting from infection by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, which is a major cause of infectious bovine abortion and a significant economic burden to the cattle industry. Definitive hosts are canid and an extensive range of identified susceptible intermediate hosts now includes native Australian species. Pilot experiments demonstrated the high disease susceptibility and the unexpected observation of rapid and prolific cyst formation in the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) following inoculation with N. caninum. These findings contrast those in the immunocompetent rodent models and have enormous implications for the role of the dunnart as an animal model to study the molecular host-parasite interactions contributing to cyst formation. An immunohistochemical investigation of the dunnart host cellular response to inoculation with N. caninum was undertaken to determine if a detectable alteration contributes to cyst formation, compared with the eutherian models. Selective cell labelling was observed using novel antibodies developed against Tasmanian devil proteins (CD4, CD8, IgG and IgM) as well as appropriate labelling with additional antibodies targeting T cells (CD3), B cells (CD79b, PAX5), granulocytes, and the monocyte-macrophage family (MAC387).
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A Specialised Thylacinid, Thylacinus Macknessi; (Marsupialia: Thylacinidae) from Miocene Deposits of Riversleigh, Northwestern Queensland
A SPECIALISED THYLACINID, THYLACINUS MACKNESSI; (MARSUPIALIA: THYLACINIDAE) FROM MIOCENE DEPOSITS OF RIVERSLEIGH, NORTHWESTERN QUEENSLAND JEANElTE MUIRHEAD M uirhead, J ., 1992. A specialised thylacinid, Thylacinus macknessi, (Marsupialia: Thylacinidae) from Miocene deposits of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Australian Mammalogy 15: 67-76. Thylacinus macknessi is described from Miocene sediments of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. Comparisons with other thylacinids and dasyurids reveal it to be a new species of Thy/acinus. In most features it is as specialised as T. cynocepha/us and it is not considered to be ancestral to any other taxon. The presence of such a specialised thylacine in the Riversleigh deposits argues for a pre-Late Oligocene divergence of this group from the Dasyuridae. Key words: Thylacine, 1h)'lacinus macknessi, Thylacinidae, Riversleigh, Tertiary, Queensland, Marsupialia. I. Muirhead. Schoo/ of Bi%gica/ Sciences, University of New South Wa/es, PO Box I Kensington New South Wales 2033. Manuscript received /4 September 1991. THE Thylacinidae is a small family consisting of a abbreviations used are: QMF, Queensland Museum recently extinct form Thy/acinus cynocepha/us Harris, palaeontological collection; AR, temporary catalogue and two Tertiary taxa. Although thylacinid premolars number in School of Biological Science, U niversity of have been recovered from the Miocene Wipajiri New South Wales. Measurements of tooth dimensions Formation of South Australia and the late Pliocene of 7: macknessi are presented
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Energetics and Biomechanics of Locomotion by Red Kangaroos (Macropus Rufus)
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 120 (1998) 41–49 Review Energetics and biomechanics of locomotion by red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) Rodger Kram a,*, Terence J. Dawson b a Department of Integrati6e Biology, Uni6ersity of California, Berkeley CA 94720-3140, USA b School of Biological Sciences, Uni6ersity of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia Received 15 May 1997; received in revised form 22 September 1997; accepted 7 October 1997 Abstract As red kangaroos hop faster over level ground, their rate of oxygen consumption (indicating metabolic energy consumption) remains nearly the same. This phenomenon has been attributed to exceptional elastic energy storage and recovery via long compliant tendons in the legs. Alternatively, red kangaroos may have exceptionally efficient muscles. To estimate efficiency, we measured the metabolic cost of uphill hopping, where muscle fibers must perform mechanical work against gravity. We found that −1 uphill hopping was much more expensive than level hopping. The maximal rate of oxygen consumption measured (3 ml O2 kg s−1) exceeds all but a few vertebrate species. However, efficiency values were normal, 30%. At faster level hopping speeds the effective mechanical advantage of the extensor muscles of the ankle joint remained the same. Thus, kangaroos generate the same muscular force at all speeds but do so more rapidly at faster hopping speeds. This contradicts a recent hypothesis for what sets the cost of locomotion. The cost of transport (J kg−1 m−1) decreases at faster hopping speeds, yet red kangaroos prefer to use relatively slow speeds that avoid high levels of tendon stress. © 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.
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Husbandry Guidelines for Common Ringtail Possums, Pseudocheirus Peregrinus Mammalia: Pseudocheiridae
32325/01 Casey Poolman E0190918 Husbandry guidelines for Common Ringtail Possums, Pseudocheirus peregrinus Mammalia: Pseudocheiridae Ault Ringtail Possum Image: Casey Poolman Author: Casey Poolman Date of preparation: 7/11/2017 Open Colleges, Course name and number: ACM30310 Certificate III in Captive Animals Trainer: Chris Hosking Husbandry guidelines for Pseudocheirus peregrinus 1 32325/01 Casey Poolman E0190918 Author contact details [email protected] Disclaimer Please note that these husbandry guidelines are student material, created as part of student assessment for Open Colleges ACM30310 Certificate III in Captive Animals. While care has been taken by students to compile accurate and complete material at the time of creation, all information contained should be interpreted with care. No responsibility is assumed for any loss or damage resulting from using these guidelines. Husbandry guidelines are evolving documents that need to be updated regularly as more information becomes available and industry knowledge about animal welfare and care is extended. Husbandry guidelines for Pseudocheirus peregrinus 2 32325/01 Casey Poolman E0190918 Workplace Health and Safety risks warning Ringtail Possums are not an aggressive possum and will mostly try to freeze or hide when handled, however they can and do bite, which can be deep and penetrating. When handling possums always be careful not to get bitten, do not put your hands around its mouth. You should always use two hands and be firm but gentle. Adult Ringtail Possums should be gripped by the back of the neck and around the shoulders with one hand and around the base of the tail with the other. This should allow you to control the animal without hurting it and reduces the risk of you being bitten or scratched.
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West Papua 2019
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Platypus Collins, L.R
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS BIOLOGY AND CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Stephen Jackson © CSIRO 2003 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Jackson, Stephen M. Australian mammals: Biology and captive management Bibliography. ISBN 0 643 06635 7. 1. Mammals – Australia. 2. Captive mammals. I. Title. 599.0994 Available from CSIRO PUBLISHING 150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9662 7666 Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only) Fax: +61 3 9662 7555 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.publish.csiro.au Cover photos courtesy Stephen Jackson, Esther Beaton and Nick Alexander Set in Minion and Optima Cover and text design by James Kelly Typeset by Desktop Concepts Pty Ltd Printed in Australia by Ligare REFERENCES reserved. Chapter 1 – Platypus Collins, L.R. (1973) Monotremes and Marsupials: A Reference for Zoological Institutions. Smithsonian Institution Press, rights Austin, M.A. (1997) A Practical Guide to the Successful Washington. All Handrearing of Tasmanian Marsupials. Regal Publications, Collins, G.H., Whittington, R.J. & Canﬁeld, P.J. (1986) Melbourne. Theileria ornithorhynchi Mackerras, 1959 in the platypus, 2003. Beaven, M. (1997) Hand rearing of a juvenile platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw). Journal of Wildlife Proceedings of the ASZK/ARAZPA Conference. 16–20 March.
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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.
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Thylacinidae
FAUNA of AUSTRALIA 20. THYLACINIDAE JOAN M. DIXON 1 Thylacine–Thylacinus cynocephalus [F. Knight/ANPWS] 20. THYLACINIDAE DEFINITION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION The single member of the family Thylacinidae, Thylacinus cynocephalus, known as the Thylacine, Tasmanian Tiger or Wolf, is a large carnivorous marsupial (Fig. 20.1). Generally sandy yellow in colour, it has 15 to 20 distinct transverse dark stripes across the back from shoulders to tail. While the large head is reminiscent of the dog and wolf, the tail is long and characteristically stiff and the legs are relatively short. Body hair is dense, short and soft, up to 15 mm in length. Body proportions are similar to those of the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, the Eastern Quoll, Dasyurus viverrinus and the Tiger Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. The Thylacine is digitigrade. There are five digital pads on the forefoot and four on the hind foot. Figure 20.1 Thylacine, side view of the whole animal. (© ABRS)[D. Kirshner] The face is fox-like in young animals, wolf- or dog-like in adults. Hairs on the cheeks, above the eyes and base of the ears are whitish-brown. Facial vibrissae are relatively shorter, finer and fewer than in Tasmanian Devils and Quolls. The short ears are about 80 mm long, erect, rounded and covered with short fur. Sexual dimorphism occurs, adult males being larger on average. Jaws are long and powerful and the teeth number 46. In the vertebral column there are only two sacrals instead of the usual three and from 23 to 25 caudal vertebrae rather than 20 to 21.
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Australian Marsupial Species Identification
G Model FSIGSS-793; No. of Pages 2 Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series xxx (2011) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series jo urnal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/FSIGSS Australian marsupial species identification a, b,e c,d d d Linzi Wilson-Wilde *, Janette Norman , James Robertson , Stephen Sarre , Arthur Georges a ANZPAA National Institute of Forensic Science, Victoria, Australia b Museum Victoria, Victoria, Australia c Australian Federal Police, Australian Capital Territory, Australia d University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia e Melbourne University, Victoria, Australia A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: Wildlife crime, the illegal trade in animals and animal products, is a growing concern and valued at up to Received 10 October 2011 US$20 billion globally per year. Australia is often targeted for its unique fauna, proximity to South East Accepted 10 October 2011 Asia and porous borders. Marsupials of the order Diprotodontia (including koala, wombats, possums, gliders, kangaroos) are sometimes targeted for their skin, meat and for the pet trade. However, species Keywords: identification for forensic purposes must be underpinned by robust phylogenetic information. A Species identification Diprotodont phylogeny containing a large number of taxa generated from nuclear and mitochondrial Forensic data has not yet been constructed. Here the mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear markers (APOB, DNA IRBP and GAPD) are combined to create a more robust phylogeny to underpin a species identification COI Barcoding method for the marsupial order Diprotodontia. Mitochondrial markers were combined with nuclear Diprotodontia markers to amplify 27 genera of Diprotodontia.
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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.
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