metatheria

Question 1

common metatherian characteristics

Answer 1

found primarily in Australia and neotropics, 50% have a marsupium, all have epipubic bones, biphid penis and vagina, small and not convoluted brains, diprododont or polyprododont, didactyl or syndactyl

Question 2

didactyl

Answer 2

separated digits

Question 3

syndactyl

Answer 3

fused digits

Question 4

marsupial reproduction

Answer 4

females have 2 vaginas and uteruses, highly altricial young with short gestation, incompletely developed neonates, very small neonates

Question 5

marsupial neonate

Answer 5

well developed front limbs, move to pouch to hold onto a teats which swell to make a semi-permanent connection, leave pouch at birth weight of eutherians

Question 6

marsupial lactation

Answer 6

long term milk production, composition of milk changes over time

Question 7

early milk

Answer 7

low in fat and high in protein for structural development

Question 8

late milk

Answer 8

low in protein and high in fat to increase mass

Question 9

found in north and south America, ancestral for all marsupials, opposable clawless hallux or big toe, arboreal with a long prehensile tail, 50 teeth

Answer 9

order didelphimorphia
opossums

Question 10

found in Australia and nearby islands, shrew-dog sized carnivores, poor or absent marsupium, long furry tail, terrestrial, highly diverse

Answer 10

order dasyuromorphia
Tasmanian devil, tiger, quolls

Question 11

found in Australia and New Guinea, wide size range, hind limbs specialized, becoming less common in the wild, ecological equivalent is the anteater

Answer 11

order Peramelemorphia
bandicoots and bilbies

Question 12

largest order of marsupials, syndactylus, diprotodont

Answer 12

order diprotodontia
wombats, koalas, sugar gliders, kangaroos

Question 13

found in Australia, highly specialized limbs for digging, dig extensive burrows called warrens, ecological equivalent is the groundhog

Answer 13

order diprotodontia
family vombatidae
wombats

Question 14

found in Australia, extremely low reproductive rate, highly specialized diet of eucalyptus, no ecological equivalent; only 1 species

Answer 14

order diprotodontia
family phascolarctidae
phascolarctus cinercus - koalas

Question 15

found in Australia, patagia-furred membranes between the limbs, nocturnal, arboreal, herbivores, somewhat convergent with flying squirrels

Answer 15

order diprotodontia
family petauridae
sugar gliders

Question 16

found in Australia, highly specialized limbs for cursorial movement - running and jumping, bipedal with movement by saltation - bouncing, large tails for bouncing and support, diastema, large anterior marsupium, ecological equivalent of deer

Answer 16

order diprotodontia
family maeropodidae
kangaroos and wallabies

Question 17

convergent evolution

Answer 17

separate lineages that broke apart long ago but continued to live in similar habitats and evolved to be similar