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Peramelemorphs
The order Peramelemorphia includes the bandicoots and bilbies. All members of the order are endemic to Australia-New Guinea and most have the characteristic bandicoot shape: a plump, arch-backed body with a long, delicately tapering snout, very large upright ears, relatively long, thin legs, and a thin tail. Their size varies from about 140 grams up to 4 kilograms, but most species are about one kilogram. Phylogeny Placement within Marsupialia The position of the Peramelemorphia within the marsupial family tree has long been puzzling and controversial. There are two morphological features in the order that appear to show a clear evolutionary link with another marsupial group: the type of foot, and the teeth. Unfortunately, these clear signposts point in opposite directions. All members of the order are polyprotodont (have several pairs of lower front teeth)—in the case of the Peramelemorphia, three pairs. This suggests that they have evolved within Dasyuromorphia (mar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Short-nosed Bandicoot
The short-nosed bandicoots (genus ''Isoodon'') are members of the order (biology), order Peramelemorphia. These marsupials can be found across Australia, although their distribution can be patchy. Genetic evidence suggests that short-nosed bandicoots diverged from the related Perameles, long-nosed species around eight million years ago, during the Miocene epoch, and underwent a rapid diversification around three million years ago, during the late Pliocene. Species and subspecies While the IUCN lists only three species in this genus, as many as five species in this genus with the two subspecies of ''I. obesulus'' raised to full species. *Golden bandicoot, ''Isoodon auratus'' *Northern brown bandicoot, ''Isoodon macrourus'' *Southern brown bandicoot, ''Isoodon obesulus'' **Quenda or Western brown bandicoot, ''Isoodon obesulus fusciventer'' **Cape York brown bandicoot, ''Isoodon obesulus peninsulae'' References Peramelemorphs Marsupials of Australia Miocene marsupials Mioc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |