Order: Diprotodontia

1
Order Diprotodontia Suborder Phalangeriformes Fa
mily Pseudocheiridae
Petauroides volans (greater glider)
Bacterial Fermenters Hindgut
Order Diprotodontia Suborder Phalangeriformes Fa
mily Pseudocheiridae Subfamily
Hemibelideinae Genus Petauroides Species
Petauroides volans
Ringtail possums Pseudochirops archeri (green
ringtail possum)
Bacterial Fermenters Foregut
Macropodidae
Dendrolagus goodfellowi pulcherrimus
Phascolarctos cinereus (koala)
2
Character Marsupial state Placental state
Diversity 6 of living mammal species 94 of living mammal species
size not as large larger range of body sizes
structural adaptations less diverse flying (wings), marine (fins)
ReproductionFigs. 10.7 brief gestation semiembryonic young body mass 1 of mother. Need for precocious grasping forelimbs may constrain adaptability long gestation period young more developed at birth body mass up to 50 of mother
Placenta Fig. 9.11 choriovitelline (usually)  chorioallantoic
Lactation period Fig. 10.7 long short
Investment of energy in motherhood lower, altricial young higher, reproduce more rapidly (usually), precocial young
Cerebral Cortex/ Braincase smooth and complex, slow development, smaller volume (maybe) fast development, greater volume (maybe)
Behavioural plasticity uncommon great range of behaviours
Territoriality uncommon common and important
Antipredator behaviour not well developed highly developed, particularly in herding animals capable of sustained high speeds
Epipubic bones present absent
Baculum Fig. 9.3 absent present
Auditory bullae derived from alisphenoid bone varies, but not alisphenoid
primitive dental formula 5/4-1/1-3/3-4/4 3/3-1/1-4/4-3/3
3
(No Transcript)
4
Recall- chorioallantoic placenta in Order
Peramelemorphia
5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)