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)

Anteater-like marsupials
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Marsupial:
(anteater-like)

  1. M. fasciatus
    (2 subspecies)
 Western Australia
(2 subspecies)
Numbat, also called the banded anteater

Cat-like

1 genus–(6 species)

Cat-like marsupials
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Marsupial:
(cat-like)

  1. D. albopunctatus
  2. D. geoffroii
  3. D. hallucatus
  4. D. maculatus
  5. D. spartacus
  6. D. viverrinus
 Australia &
Papua and New Guineas
Tiger quoll

Groundhog-like

6 genera
2 surviving genera

Groundhog-like marsupials
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Marsupial:
(groundhog-like)

  1. 6 genera
Common wombat

Mole-like

1 genus–(2 species)

Mole-like marsupials
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Marsupial:
(mole-like)

  1. N. caurinus
  2. N. typhlops
Marsupial mole

Rhinoceros-like

1 genus

Rhinoceros-like marsupials
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Marsupial:
(rhinoceros-like)

    		 Extinct
    Nototherium

    Panther like

    6 genera

    Panther-like marsupials
    Taxa Presence Notes Images

    Marsupial:
    (panther-like)

    1. †Priscileo pitikantensis (Upper Oligocene)
    2. †Priscileo roskellyae (Middle Miocene)
    Subfamily Wakaleoninae
    Genus †Wakaleo
    1. †Wakaleo alcootaensis (Upper Miocene)
    2. †Wakaleo oldfieldi (Lower—Upper Miocene)
    3. †Wakaleo vanderleueri (Middle—Upper Miocene)
    Subfamily Thylacoleoninae
    Genus †Thylacoleo
    1. †Thylacoleo carnifex (Pleistocene)
    2. †Thylacoleo crassidentatus (Pliocene)
    3. †Thylacoleo hilli (Pliocene)
    Thylacoleo

    Squirrel-like

    1 genus–(6 species)

    Squirrel-like marsupials
    Taxa Presence Notes Images

    Marsupial:
    (squirrel-like)

    1. P. abidi
    2. P. australis
    3. P. biacensis
    4. P. breviceps
    5. P. gracilis
    6. P. norfolcensis
    Sugar glider

    Canine-like

    1 genus–(1 species)

    canine-like marsupials
    Taxa Presence Notes Images

    Marsupial:
    (canine-like)

    1. T. cynocephlus
    		 Extinct
    Thylacine, also called Tasmanian wolf or tiger

    Wolverine-like

    1 genus–(1 species)

    Wolverine-like marsupials
    Taxa Presence Notes Images

    Marsupial:
    (wolverine-like)

    1. S. harrisii
    		 Extirpated
    from mainland
    (Tasmania only)
    Tasmanian devil

    Unique: kangaroo-like

    Unique: opossum-like

    ? species

    Unique—Opossum-like marsupials
    Taxa Presence Notes Images

    Marsupial:
    (opossum-like)

    1. Many genera
    Virginia opossum

    See also

    References

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marsupialia.
    1. ↑ Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Chapter: Biogeography, Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials, p. 854-855.
    2. ↑ Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Chapter: Biogeography, Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials, p. 854-855.
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