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
edit1 genus–(monotypic)
(2 subspecies)
Anteater-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
Western Australia (2 subspecies) |
|
Cat-like
edit1 genus–(6 species)
Cat-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
Australia & Papua and New Guineas |
|
Groundhog-like
edit6 genera
2 surviving genera
Groundhog-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
|
Mole-like
edit1 genus–(2 species)
Mole-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
|
Rhinoceros-like
edit1 genus
Rhinoceros-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
Extinct |
|
Panther-like
edit6 genera
Panther-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
Extinct |
|
Flying Squirrel-like
edit1 genus–(6 species)
Flying Squirrel-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
|
Canine-like
edit1 genus–(1 species)
canine-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
Extinct |
|
Hyena-like
edit1 genus–(1 species)
Hyena-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
Extirpated from mainland (Tasmania only) |
|
Deer-like
edit- - Family Macropodidae
Unique: opossum-like
edit? species
Unique—Opossum-like marsupials | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Marsupial:
|
|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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)