List of adaptive radiated marsupials by form
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]
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)
Cat-like
1 genus–(6 species)
Groundhog-like
6 genera 2 surviving genera
Mole-like
1 genus–(2 species)
Rhinoceros-like
1 genus
Panther-like
6 genera
Panther -like marsupials
Taxa
Presence
Notes
Images
Marsupial : (panther-like )
†Priscileo pitikantensis (Upper Oligocene)
†Priscileo roskellyae (Middle Miocene)
Subfamily Wakaleoninae
Genus †Wakaleo
†Wakaleo alcootaensis (Upper Miocene)
†Wakaleo oldfieldi (Lower—Upper Miocene)
†Wakaleo vanderleueri (Middle—Upper Miocene)
Subfamily Thylacoleoninae
Genus †Thylacoleo
†Thylacoleo carnifex (Pleistocene)
†Thylacoleo crassidentatus (Pliocene)
†Thylacoleo hilli (Pliocene)
Extinct
Thylacoleo
Flying Squirrel-like
1 genus–(6 species)
Canine-like
1 genus–(1 species)
Hyena-like
1 genus–(1 species)
Deer-like
Unique: opossum-like
? species
See also
References
^ Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth , Chapter: Biogeography , Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials , p. 854-855.
^ Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth , Chapter: Biogeography , Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials , p. 854-855.
Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth , Edward O. Wilson , Thomas Eisner , Winslow R. Briggs , Richard E. Dickerson , Robert L. Metzenberg , Richard D. O'Brien, Millard Susman, William E. Boggs, c 1973, Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publisher, Stamford, Connecticut. 1033 pp, 19 p Index & Back Page (hardcover, ISBN 0-87893-934-2 )