16 Questions
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes the subclass Prototheria from the subclass Theria?
Laying eggs
What event led to the diversification of marsupials in South America and Australia?
Continental drift
Which cohort of marsupials is primarily found in Australia?
Australidelphia
What is unique about the Yapock, a species of marsupial?
Both males and females have a pouch
What is the primary threat to marsupial populations?
All of the above
Which of the following is NOT a type of marsupial?
Raccoon
What is the primary reason for the diminishing diversity of marsupials in South America?
Re-joining with North America
Which order of marsupials includes the koala?
Diprotodontia
What percentage of the total mammalian species are comprised by marsupials?
10%
In which order does the Tasmanian devil belong?
Dasyuromorpha
What is a distinctive feature of the platypus?
All of the above
What is the main reason for the decline of marsupial populations in Australia?
All of the above
What is the primary difference between the cohorts Ameridelphia and Australidelphia?
Geographical distribution
How many species of mammals belong to the subclass Prototheria?
3
What is the primary reason for the diversification of marsupials in Australia?
Geographical isolation
What is the primary characteristic of the order Peramelemorphia?
Omnivorous diet
Study Notes
Mammalia Classification
- Class: Mammalia is divided into two subclasses: Prototheria and Theria
Subclass: Prototheria
- 1 order: Monotremata
- 2 families: Tachyglossidae and Ornithorhynchidae
- 3 genera and 5 species
- Monotremes are venomous, although the apparatus in echidnas is non-functional
- Threats: hunted for food by Aboriginal peoples
Subclass: Theria
- 26/27 orders
- Divided into two groups: marsupial mammals and placental mammals
Infraclass: Metatheria (Marsupials)
- 7 orders
- Divided into two cohorts: Ameridelphia and Australidelphia
- Named mainly for countries where they occur, but not entirely accurate
- Marsupials diversified due to isolation in Antarctica/Australia and South America
- Diversity diminished in South America when it re-joined with North America
Orders of Marsupials
- Order Paucituberculata: 1 family, 3 genera, 7 species (shrew opossums)
- Order Didelphimorphia: 1 family, 18 genera, 111 species (American opossums)
- Order Peramelemorphia: 3 families, 8 genera, 23 species (bandicoots and bilbies)
- Order Microbiotheria: 1 family, 1 genus, 3 species (Monito del monte)
- Order Notoryctemorphia: 1 family, 1 genus, 2 species (Marsupial moles)
- Order Dasyuromorpha: 2 families, 19 genera, 78 species (Australian carnivorous marsupials)
- Order Diprotodontia: 10 families, 41 genera, 155 species (possums, kangaroos, wombats, and koalas)
Threats to Marsupials
- Habitat loss
- Climate change
- Introduced dogs
- Disease
Mammalia Classification
- Class: Mammalia is divided into two subclasses: Prototheria and Theria
Subclass: Prototheria
- 1 order: Monotremata
- 2 families: Tachyglossidae and Ornithorhynchidae
- 3 genera and 5 species
- Monotremes are venomous, although the apparatus in echidnas is non-functional
- Threats: hunted for food by Aboriginal peoples
Subclass: Theria
- 26/27 orders
- Divided into two groups: marsupial mammals and placental mammals
Infraclass: Metatheria (Marsupials)
- 7 orders
- Divided into two cohorts: Ameridelphia and Australidelphia
- Named mainly for countries where they occur, but not entirely accurate
- Marsupials diversified due to isolation in Antarctica/Australia and South America
- Diversity diminished in South America when it re-joined with North America
Orders of Marsupials
- Order Paucituberculata: 1 family, 3 genera, 7 species (shrew opossums)
- Order Didelphimorphia: 1 family, 18 genera, 111 species (American opossums)
- Order Peramelemorphia: 3 families, 8 genera, 23 species (bandicoots and bilbies)
- Order Microbiotheria: 1 family, 1 genus, 3 species (Monito del monte)
- Order Notoryctemorphia: 1 family, 1 genus, 2 species (Marsupial moles)
- Order Dasyuromorpha: 2 families, 19 genera, 78 species (Australian carnivorous marsupials)
- Order Diprotodontia: 10 families, 41 genera, 155 species (possums, kangaroos, wombats, and koalas)
Threats to Marsupials
- Habitat loss
- Climate change
- Introduced dogs
- Disease
This quiz covers the classification of mammals, including the subclass Prototheria and Theria, and their orders, families, and species. It also touches on the unique characteristics of monotremes and the threats they face.
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