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Index
Page numbers in italic indicate figures or tables.
abandonment of young 268–9
Acrobates pygmaeus (feathertail glider) 52, 97, 147, 148, 318
Acrobatidae (family) (feathertail gliders) 7, 16, 97
taxonomic lists and conservation status 318, 320
activity rhythms 174, 233–4
aestivation 234 see also hibernation; torpor
agonistic calls 238–9
agonistic displays 244–6
alarm calls 240
Americas (marsupial species)
causes of declines 308–9
future prospects 329
history of marsupial dominance 307–8
recognition and legal listing 326
recovery process 328
taxonomic list and conservation status 322–4
threatened species 318, 321–5
Ankotarinja 6
Antechinus stuartii (brown antechinus) 143–4, 273, 312
Antechinus subtropicus (subtropical antechinus) 209, 211, 212, 213, 214, 312
Antechinus swainsonii (dusky antechinus) 104, 143, 312
anti-nutrients in foods 137, 138
arboreal folivores
dentition and digestive tract 151–3
energy and nutrient requirements 153–4
lactation strategy 130–1, 135
see also browsers; foraging behaviour; herbivorous marsupials
Argyrolagida (order) 5, 6, 18
asynchronous concurrent lactation 104, 115–16, 131–3
auditory communication 183–4, 234–40
auditory system 183–4
Australian marsupials
causes of declines 301–6
extinct species and subspecies 301–6, 309
future prospects 328–9
importance of islands 305–6
reasons for conservation 300–1
recognition and legal listing 325
recovery process 326–7
Tasmania 305–6
taxonomic list and conservation status 312–18
threatened species 301–6, 309, 312–18
B lymphocytes 187–8, 193–4, 195–6, 198
Balbaridae (family) 7
behaviour of marsupials
activity rhythms 233–4
burrowing 231–2
communication 234–48
daily activities 230–4
‘death feigning’ 234
environmental influences 229–30
feeding behaviour and adaptations 231
food caching 234
grooming and care of the body 231, 233
maintenance behaviour 230–4
modes of locomotion 230–1, 232
mother–young 263–71
nest-building 232–3
play 271–7
sexual 248–63
sleep patterns 233–4
social organisation 289–98
torpor, aestivation and hibernation 234
bettongs, life-history strategies 209, 220–1
biodiversity
Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio Convention) 299
in population genetics 63–6
reasons for conservation 299–300
threats to 74
birth in marsupials 101–2
sensory development of neonates 177–9
BMR (basal metabolic rate) of marsupials
arboreal folivores 153
carnivores 144
omnivores 148
wombats 151
body size of marsupials 201
Borhyaenidae (extinct family) 5
brain
anatomy of marsupial brains 167, 174–5, 176, 277–8
archaeocortex 171–2
cerebrospinal fluid 170
diencephalon 173–4
forebrain components 170–4
hypothalamus 173–4
limbic system 174
membranes (meninges) 170
neocortex 171, 172–3
olfactory bulb 170–1, 172
optic nerves 174
palaeocortex 171, 172
pineal gland 174
pituitary gland 173
relative brain size among mammals 184–5
see also nervous system
brain development 166–9
brainstem 167–8
cerebral hemispheres 168–9
diencephalon 168
forebrain (prosencephalon) 166, 168–9
hindbrain (rhombencephalon) 166–8
midbrain (mesencephalon) 166–8
neural tube 166
radial glial cells 169
telencephalon 168
browsers, life-history strategies 210, 223–5 see also arboreal folivores; foraging
behaviour; herbivorous marsupials
Burramyidae (family) 16, 97
hibernation in pygmy-possums 148
taxonomic lists and conservation status 318, 320
Burramys parvus (mountain pygmy-possum) 97, 318
burrowing 231–2
caecal fermentation 148–50, 151–4
caecotrophy 152
Caenolestes fuliginosus (rat opossum) 140, 142, 324
Caenolestidae (family) 5–6, 16
taxonomic list and conservation status 324
Caluromyidae (family) 5, 16
Caluromys lanatus (western woolly opossum) 52, 322
Caluromys philander (bare-tailed woolly opossum) 209, 218–20, 322
Canis lupus dingo (dingo) 306
carbohydrates
forms found in foods 137, 138
levels in marsupial milk 121–9
cardiogastric gland 140, 142, 151
carnivorous marsupials
dentition 140, 141
diets 201–2
digestive function 143–4
digestive tract 140–3
energy and nutritional requirements 144
hibernation and torpor states 144
life-history strategies 209, 211–17
central nervous system (CNS) 159 see also brain; nervous system
Cercartetus concinnus (pygmy-possum) 52, 97, 318
Cercartetus lepidus (pygmy-possum) 97, 318
Cercartetus nanus (pygmy-possum) 97, 318
chemical messages see olfactory communication
Chironectes minimus (water opossum) 231, 322
chromosome painting 53–6
chromosome staining techniques 51, 52
chromosomes
sex chromosomes 33–4
structure and sequence 32–4, 51
chromosomes (marsupials) 33, 50–7
karyotype variation 50–7
recombination 23
sex chromosomes 23, 57–63
size 23
X-chromosome inactivation 23
class (classification category) 4
classification of marsupials
analogous and homologous forms 8–13
anatomical schemes 10–13
bases for modern classification 8–10
comparison with placental orders 4
descriptions of orders 5–8
development of 3–5
hierarchical categories 3–4
historical 1
molecular phylogeny 13–15, 16, 16–17
symplesiomorphic homologous features 9–13
synapomorphic homologous features 9–13
taxa 3–4
see also taxonomic lists of marsupials
communication 234–48
auditory 234–40
olfactory 234–6, 240–4
tactile 234–6, 246–8
visual 234–6, 243–6
concurrent asynchronous lactation see asynchronous concurrent lactation
conservation genetics
conserving variation between populations 79–80
effects of small populations 70–4
ESUs 76–80
hybridisation in captivity 78, 79
loss of genetic variation 70–4
management units (MUs) 78–9
population genetics 76
conservation of biodiversity 299–300
conservation of marsupials 300–1
causes of declines 301–9
extinct species 301–8
future prospects 328–9
importance of genetics 81–2
recognition and legal listing 325–6
recovery process 326–8
species at risk 309–25
treatment for recovery 325–8
conservation status of marsupials (taxonomic lists)
Americas 322–4
Australia 312–18
Indonesia 319–21
Papua New Guinea 319–21
conservation units 76–80
contact calls 237
Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio Convention) 299
courtship behaviour 247–8
courtship calls 239–40
Dactylopsila trivirgata (striped possum) 183, 317
daily rhythms, regulation 174
Darwin, Charles 8
Dasyuridae (family) 6, 16, 263–5
taxonomic lists and conservation status 312–13, 319
Dasyuromorphia (order) 6, 18–19
Dasyurus hallucatus (northern quoll) 312
birth and journey to the pouch 178, 179
brain 166, 167, 168, 171, 173, 174
vocalisations of pouch young 183–4
Dasyurus maculatus (spotted-tailed quoll) 70, 312
dentition and diet 140, 141
digestive function 143–4
ESUs 76–8
mounting behaviour 251
play behaviour among young 273, 274
Dasyurus viverrinus (eastern quoll) 28, 38, 52, 312
dentition and diet 140
digestive function 143
life-history strategy 209, 212, 214, 215
milk composition 123
reproductive pattern 105–6
dentition 3
arboreal folivores 151, 152
carnivorous marsupials 140, 141
herbivorous marsupials 141
kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos 155
omnivorous marsupials 145
wombats 150
diapause, in marsupial embryos 97–101
Didelphidae (family) 16, 263–5
taxonomic list and conservation status 322–4
Didelphimorphia (order) (opossums) 5, 18
Didelphis spp. 1, 2, 209, 221, 222, 322
Didelphis marsupialis (common or black-eared opossum) 181, 322
Didelphis virginiana (North American or Virginia opossum) 75, 96, 322
activity rhythms 233–4
behavioural studies 230
birth and journey to the pouch 178
‘death feigning’ behaviour 234
dentition and digestive tract 142, 145
face-washing behaviour 231, 233
sleep patterns 234
thermoregulation in young 122
tree climbing 230–1, 232
diets of marsupials 201–5
digestive tract anatomy and function
arboreal folivores, 151–3
cardiogastric gland 140, 142
carnivorous marsupials 140–4
herbivorous marsupials 148–58
kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos 149, 155–7
omnivorous marsupials 145–7
Diprotodontia (order) 4, 7, 18–19
classification of 8–9, 10–11, 14
Diprotodontidae (family) 7
diprotodonty 8, 10–11
dispersal
genetic biases in 69–70
genetic estimates of 75
patterns in marsupials 74–5
Distoechurus pennatus (feathertail glider) 97, 320
DNA
allelic variation 27–8
different forms in genomes 28–38
microsatellite 28, 30
mitochondrial 36, 37, 70
polymorphism 27–8
structure 25
DNA amplification by PCR 28, 29, 30
DNA comparison methods
amino-acid sequencing 14
DNA hybridisation 14–15, 16, 16–17, 25
DNA library 29
Dromiciops gliroides (monito del monte) 6, 11, 14–15, 18, 143, 144, 324
echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
brain 175, 176
discovery of 2
ecological attributes of marsupials
body size 201
diets 201–5
habitats 205–7
ecology and life histories 207–27
carnivore life-history strategies 209, 211–17
environmental influences 207–8
herbivore life-history strategies 210, 223–7
marsupial life-history strategies 208–27
omnivore life-history strategies 209–10, 217–23
ecology of marsupials
history of study 199–200
motivations for study 200
Ektopodontidae (extinct family) 7
embryonic diapause 97–101
energy and nutrient requirements
arboreal folivores 153–4
carnivorous marsupials 144
kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos 157–8
omnivorous marsupials 148
wombats 151
environmental influences
durational stability 207
spatial heterogeneity 208
temporal variability 207–8
Eomaia scansoria (oldest fossil placental mammal) 3
ESUs (evolutionarily significant units) 76–80
eutherian mammals, relationship with marsupials 24 see also placental mammals
evolution of marsupials, timing and geographic course 15, 17–19
extermination of marsupials 200
family (classification category) 4
feeding behaviour and adaptations 231 see also foraging behaviour
female marsupials
birth 101–2
embryonic diapause 97–101
hormonal control of the reproductive cycle 93, 94, 95–7
lactation 102–4
mate-choice 256–9
oestrous cycles and pregnancy 92–101
reproductive anatomy and function 89–92
seasonal breeding 104–5
variations in pouches 92
FISH (fluorescence in-situ hybridisation) 46–7
flehmen 243, 254
FMR (field metabolic rate) of marsupials
arboreal folivores 153
carnivores 144
omnivores 148
wombats 151
food caching 234
foods used by marsupials, classification 137–9
foot-stamping communication 236
foraging behaviour 281–9
foregut fermentation, herbivorous marsupials 148–9, 154–8
frugivore–omnivores, life-history strategies 209, 218–20
fungivore–omnivores, life-history strategies 209, 220–1
galactopoiesis, hormonal control of 115–16, 117–19
gastrointestinal tract see digestive tract anatomy and function
gene cloning 28, 29, 38–9
gene flow 74
gene mapping 41–50
comparisons between species 47–50
in-situ hybridisation 45–7, 48, 49
linkage maps 42
somatic cell genetics 43–4, 45
gene origins 40
genes
coding for proteins 24–7
competition and spread in populations 63–6
DNA mutations 27–8
DNA structure 24–7
expression and regulation 24–7, 40–1
marsupial 38–41
genetic biases in dispersal 69–70
genetic estimates of dispersal 75
genetic relationships, molecular phylogeny 13–15, 16, 16–17
genetics
conservation genetics 24
ecological and evolutionary genetics 24
gene expression and regulation 23–4
gene identification and transmission 23
genetic variation 64–5, 70–4
importance in marsupial conservation 81–2
population genetics 24
similarities to eutherians 22–3
genomes 28–38
evolution 41, 80–1
gene mapping 34–8
information from marsupial studies 80–1
mammalian ancestral genome 54–7, 80–1
marsupial ancestral genome 80–1
recombination in marsupials 42
recombination of genes 34–8
genus (classification category) 4
gestation, marsupials and placentals compared 134
grazers, life-history strategies 210, 225–7 see also foraging behaviour; herbivorous marsupials
Groeberida (order) 5–6, 18
grooming and care of the body 231, 233
gut flora, acquisition by young herbivores 126–8, 129
Gymnobelidius leadbeateri (Leadbeater’s possum) 146, 148, 317
habitats of marsupials 205–7
herbivorous marsupials
acquisition of gut flora by young 126–8, 129
browser life-history strategies 210, 223–5
caecal fermenters 148–50, 151–4
dentition 141
diets 204–5
digestive physiology and nutrition 148–58
foregut fermenters 148–9, 154–8
grazer life-history strategies 210, 225–7
life-history strategies 210, 223–7
microbial fermentation 148–50
proximal colon fermenters 148–9, 150–4
see also arboreal folivores
hibernation 144, 148, 234
hopping of kangaroos 230
hormonal control of lactation 115–19
human -globin sequence 28
hybridisation in captivity 78, 79
Hypsiprymnodon moschatus (musky rat-kangaroo) 92, 155, 315
Hypsiprymnodontidae (family) 7, 16
immune system in young marsupials 130 see also immunolymphatic system
immunoglobulins, in marsupial milk 130
immunolymphatic system 186–98
adenoids 194
B lymphocytes 187–8, 193–4, 195–6, 198
cell-mediated immunity 196, 198
disease diagnosis 198
functional aspects 195–8
humoral immunity 196–8
immune system 189, 191–98
lymph fluid 189
lymph nodes 193
lymphatic system 187–9, 190
macrophages 193–4, 195–6
marsupial studies 186
MHC molecules and antigen presentation 193–4, 195–6
mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTs) 186, 194
Peyer’s patches 194
spleen 194–5
T lymphocytes 187–8, 192, 193–4, 195–6, 198
thymus 191–3
tissues of 186–7
tonsils 194
inbreeding depression 66–7
Indonesian marsupials
future prospects 329
recognition and legal listing 326
recovery process 328
taxonomic list and conservation status 319–21
threatened species 309, 318, 319–21
insectivore–omnivores, life-history strategies 209, 217–18
intelligence, marsupials compared with placentals 277–81
intraspecific competition, and social organisation 290, 294–6
introns 26, 30–1, 40, 43, 80
Isoodon auratus (golden bandicoot) 148, 314
Isoodon macrourus (northern brown bandicoot) 96, 314
digestive function 146–7
digestive tract 145–6
life-history strategy 221–3
milk composition 123
reproductive pattern 106
reproductive strategy 136
Isoodon obesulus (southern brown bandicoot) 52, 210, 222–3, 314
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 301, 309
Australian marsupials and monotremes 312–18
categories and criteria 309, 310–11
Indonesian marsupials 319–21
marsupials of the Americas 322–4
New Guinea marsupials 319–21
kangaroos see Macropodidae
karyotype, stability and variation 50–7
Keeuna 6
kingdom (classification category) 4
Kollikodon 21
lactation 102–4
adaptive features in marsupials 134–6
asynchronous concurrent lactation 104, 115–16, 131–3
benefits for mammals 108
carbohydrate levels in marsupial milk 121–9
changes in marsupial milk composition 119–30
different strategies among mammals 109
duration in marsupials and placentals 134–5
energy requirements in marsupials 134–6
hormonal control of 115–19
level of efficiency in marsupials 134–6
level of milk production in marsupials 134–6
lipid levels in marsupial milk 121–9
maintenance of 112, 115–16, 117–19
mammary gland structure 110–14
phases of marsupial lactation cycle 109–10
protein levels in marsupial milk 121–9
strategies of marsupials and placentals 130–1
strategy of arboreal folivores 130–1, 135
lactogenesis, hormonal control of 115–17, 118
Lagorchestes conspicillatus (spectacled hare-wallaby) 157, 315
Lasiorhinus spp. (hairy-nosed wombats) 314
colon fermentation 150
dentition 150
digestive tract form and function 150
energy and nutrient requirements 151
Lasiorhinus krefftii (northern hairy-nosed wombat) 69–70, 73, 314
Lasiorhinus latifrons (southern hairy-nosed wombat) 52, 85, 314
learning behaviour in marsupials 277–81
Linnean classification 1, 4, 8
lipid levels in marsupial milk 121–9
locomotion
bipedal ricochet (kangaroos) 230
modes of 230–1, 232
locomotor play behaviour 272
lymphatic system see immunolymphatic system
Macropodidae (family) (kangaroos and wallabies) 7, 16
dentition 155
digestive tract anatomy and function 149, 155–7
embryonic diapause 97–101
energy and nutrient requirements 157–8
foregut fermentation 154–5
mother–young behaviour 265–8
reproductive pattern 106–7
taxonomic lists and conservation status 315–17, 319–20
Macropus spp., play-fighting 274–6
Macropus agilis (agile wallaby) 131–3, 315
Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby) 53, 55, 96, 315
asynchronous concurrent lactation 131–3
birth 101–2
embryonic diapause 98, 99–100
hybridisation between populations 79
lactation 102–4
lactation cycle 110
life-history strategy 225
male reproductive tract 84
milk composition 123, 125
nutritional deficiency in captivity 157–8
pouch development 115
scrotum development 115
seasonal breeding 104–5
thermoregulation in young 122
Macropus fuliginosus (western grey kangaroo) 100, 179, 225, 316
Macropus giganteus (eastern grey kangaroo) 1, 53, 136, 149, 179, 316
Macropus parma (parma wallaby) 157, 316
Macropus robustus (euro) 33, 53, 101, 157, 226–7, 257, 316
Macropus rufogriseus (Bennett’s wallaby) 98, 100, 104–5, 316
Macropus rufogriseus (red-necked wallaby) 225, 226, 316
Macropus rufus (red kangaroo) 53, 83, 316
asynchronous concurrent lactation 115–16, 131–3
embryonic diapause 98–9
life-history strategy 210, 226–7
mother–young behaviour 247
reproductive strategy 136
vigilant behaviour 244
Macrotis lagotis (bilby) 70, 146, 147, 314
male marsupials
development of scrotum 115
lack of mammary glands 114–15
reproductive anatomy and function 83–4
seasonal breeding 104–5
sperm 87–8
testes and accessory glands 84–6
testicular endocrinology 88, 89
Mammalia (class) 4
mammals
age of the lineage 2–3
ancestral genome 24, 54–7, 80–1
mammary gland
development and structure 110–14
in males 114–15
Marmosa murina (murine mouse opossum) 218, 322
Marmosa robinsoni (Robinson’s mouse opossum) 323
energy requirements 144
life-history strategy 209, 218
mating behaviour 249
threat display 245
Marmosops incanus (gray slender mouse opossum) 217–18, 323
Marsupial Genome Project 38
marsupials
age of the group 3
date of separation from placentals 3
discovery of 1, 199
distinguishing features xi–xiii
extinct orders 4–5
historical distribution 3, 4–5
present-day distribution 3, 4–5
relationship to placentals (eutherians) 2–3, 20–1, 24
Marsupionta (proposed grouping) 20–1
mating behaviour
and reproductive success 67–9
effects on genes 66–70
inbreeding avoidance 66–7
mating systems 259–63
see also reproduction
microbial fermentation, herbivorous marsupials 148–50
Microbiotheria (order) 6, 18
Microbiotheriidae (family) 324
microsatellite DNA 28, 30
milk see lactation
minerals, in marsupial milk 129–30
Miralinidae (extinct family) 7
mitochondrial DNA 36, 37, 70
molecular ecology, and neutral variants 65–6
molecular phylogeny 13–15, 16, 16–17
Monodelphis domestica (grey short-tailed opossum) 323
humoral immune response 198
life-history strategy 216–17
nerve cell studies 166
sensory and motor nerve development in pouch young 170
spinal cord regeneration studies 177
monotremes
brain 175, 176
classification 9
discovery of 2
evolution 17–18, 20–1
relation to marsupials and placentals 2–3, 20–1
sex chromosomes 59, 63
mother–young behaviour 263–71
abandonment of young 268–9
contact calls 237–8
relative investment in sons and daughters 269–71
MUs (management units) 78–9
Myrmecobiidae (family) 6, 16, 263–5, 313
Myrmecobius fasciatus (numbat) 6, 15, 313
natural selection 64
neonate marsupials
journey to the pouch 177–9
sensory development 177–9
see also pouch; pouch young
nervous system
astrocytes 160
autonomic 163
cell death during development 169
cells 159–63
glial cells 159, 160–1, 162, 163
interneurons 161, 163
mammalian pattern 159
microfilaments 160
microtubules 159–60
motor nerves 161, 170
motor units 164
myelin proteins 161, 162, 163
nerve cell activation 163–4
nerve cell growth and regeneration 169–70
neurons 159–63
neurotransmitters 164–6
oligodendrocytes 160–1, 163
Schwann cells 160–1, 162
sensory nerves 161, 170
sensory receptors 164
synapses 160, 164–6
nervous system development (marsupials)
auditory system 183–4
in the pouch 179–85
olfactory system 184
relative brain size 184–5
relative development of neocortex 184–5
sensory and motor nerve development in pouch young 170
sensory development of marsupial neonates 177–9
somatosensory system 183
visual system 179–82
see also brain; spinal cord
nest-building 232–3
neutral variants, and molecular ecology 65–6
New Guinea (and southwest Pacific) marsupials
causes of decline 306–7
future prospects 329
recognition and legal listing 325–6
recovery process 327–8
taxonomic list and conservation status 319–21
threatened species 309, 318, 319–21
Ningaui spp. 52, 312
nitrogen content of foods 137, 139
Notoryctemorphia (order) (marsupial moles) 6–7, 18–19
Notoryctes 15
Notoryctes typhlops (marsupial mole) 85, 182, 314
Notoryctidae (family) 16, 314
nutrition
arboreal folivores 153–4
carnivorous marsupials 144
foods used by marsupials 137–9
forms of carbohydrates in foods 137, 138
kangaroos, wallabies and rat-kangaroos 157–8
nitrogen content of foods 137, 139
omnivorous marsupials 148
water content of foods 137, 139
wombats 151
object play behaviour 272–3
odour-producing glands 240–3
olfaction 170–1, 172, 184
olfactory communication 234–6, 240–4
omnivorous marsupials 145
dentition 145
diets 202–4
digestive function 146–7
digestive tract 145–6
energy requirements 148
frugivore–omnivore life-history strategies 209, 218–20
fungivore–omnivore life-history strategies 209, 220–1
insectivore–omnivore life-history strategies 209, 217–18
life-history strategies 209–10, 217–23
nutrient requirements 148
use of hibernation and torpor states 148
order (classification category) 4
Ornithorhynchus anatinus (platypus)
brain 175, 176
discovery of 2
Palorchestidae (extinct family) 7
Papua New Guinea see New Guinea
Parantechinus apicalis (dibbler) 31, 312
paternity control 256–9
Paucituberculata (order) 5–6, 18
PCR amplification, marsupial loci 39–40
Peramelemorphia (order) (marsupial bandicoots) 7
Perameles gunnii (eastern barred bandicoot) 72–3, 222–3, 314
Perameles nasuata (long-nosed bandicoot) 52, 314
birth and journey to the pouch 178
digestive function 143
life-history strategy 210, 221–3
reproductive pattern 106
Peramelidae (family) 7, 16, 265
taxonomic lists and conservation status 314, 319
peripheral nervous system (PNS) 159 see also nervous system
Peroryctidae (family) 7
taxonomic lists and conservation status 313, 319
Petauridae (common gliders) 7, 16, 265
taxonomic lists and conservation status 317–18, 321
Petauroides volans (greater glider) 152, 153–4, 210, 223–4, 317
Petaurus breviceps (sugar glider) 142, 145, 146, 148, 318, 321
Petrogale spp. (rock wallabies) 53, 57, 74, 76, 226, 316–17
Petrogale assimilis (allied rock-wallaby) 67–9, 316
Petrogale lateralis (black-footed rock-wallaby) 71–2, 316
Phalanger gymnotis (ground cuscus) 153, 320
Phalangeridae (family) (cuscuses) 7, 16
taxonomic lists and conservation status 317, 320
Phascogale tapoatafa (brush-tailed phascogale) 74, 142, 312
Phascolarctidae (family) (koala) 7, 16, 314
Phascolarctos cinereus (koala) 314
asynchronous concurrent lactation 131–3
changes in food intake of young 127
dentition and digestive tract 141, 151–2, 153
energy and nutrient requirements 153–4
lactation strategy 123, 131, 135
life-history strategy 210, 224
loss of genetic variation in small populations 71
low genetic differentiation 75, 76
milk composition 123, 126
population management units 78–9
vocalisation 183
pheromones 240–3
phylogenetic constraints on social organisation 296–8
phylogenies, from population genetics 76
phylum (classification category) 4
pituitary gland 173
placental mammals
age of the group 3
relationship to marsupials 20–1
see also eutherian mammals
Planigale gilesi (paucident planigale) 209, 212, 214, 215–16, 313
Planigale maculata (common planigale) 209, 212, 216–17, 313
Planigale tenuirostris (narrow-nosed planigale) 263–4, 313
platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
brain 175, 176
discovery of 2
play behaviour 271–7
play-fighting, Macropus spp. 274–6
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification (of DNA) 28, 29, 30
population genetics
biodiversity 63–6
distribution of alleles 63–6
effective population size 70–4
neutral variants 65–6
population substructuring in marsupials 75
postpartum oestrus 255–6
Potoroidae (family) 7
taxonomic list and conservation status 314–15
potoroos, life-history strategies 209, 220–1
Potorous tridactylus (long-nosed potoroo) 55, 141, 315
pouch
evolutionary development 115
journey of neonate marsupials 177–9
pouch young
development of locomotor abilities 170
development of the nervous system 179–85
sensory and motor nerve development 170
vocalisations 183–4
predation risk, and social organisation 290, 292–4
protein levels in marsupial milk 121–9
proteins, structure and DNA encoding 24–7
proximal colon fermentation, herbivorous marsupials 148–9, 150–4
Pseudantechinus bilarni (sandstone antechinus) 209, 212, 213, 214, 215, 313
Pseudocheiridae (family) (ringtail possums) 7, 16
taxonomic lists and conservation status 317, 321
Pseudocheirus peregrinus (common ringtail possum) 74, 317
digestive tract 152–3
energy and nutrient requirements 153–4
lactation strategy 123, 131
life-history strategy 210, 223–4
milk composition 123
random genetic drift 70–2
rat-kangaroos (Potoroidae)
dentition 155
digestive tract form and function 149, 155–7
energy and nutrient requirements 157–8
foregut fermentation 154–5
reproduction
adaptive features 134–6
brushtail possum 106
comparison with placental strategies 134–6
duration 133–4
energy requirements 134–6
kangaroos and wallabies 106–7
northern brown bandicoot 106
quoll 105–6
reproductive patterns 105–7
sexual behaviour 248–63
reproduction (female marsupials)
anatomy and function 89–92
birth 101–2
embryonic diapause 97–101
hormonal control of the reproductive cycle 93, 94, 95–7
lactation 102–4
mate-choice 256–9
oestrous cycles and pregnancy 92–101
seasonal breeding 104–5
variations in pouches 92
reproduction (male marsupials)
anatomy and function 83–4
lack of mammary glands 114–15
scrotum development 115
seasonal breeding 104–5
sperm 87–8
testes and accessory glands 84–6
testicular endocrinology 88, 89
resource distribution, and social organisation 290–2
RISH (radioactive in-situ hybridisation) 45, 47, 48, 49
Sarcophilus harrisii (Tasmanian devil) 6, 313
auditory communication 236
dentition and diet 140
life-history strategy 209, 217
refuge on Tasmania 306
scent marking 240–3, 248
scrotum, differences between marsupials and placentals 115
seasonal breeding 104–5
seasonal rhythms, regulation 174
Setonix brachyurus (quokka) 317
energy and nutrient requirements 157–8
life-history strategy 210, 226
visual development 181
sex-biased dispersal patterns 69–70
sex chromosomes 33–4
marsupial 57–63
sex determination in marsupials 57, 59–63
sex play 276–7
sexual behaviour 248–63 see also reproduction
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 28
Sinodelphys szalayi (oldest fossil marsupial) 3
sleep patterns 233–4
Sminthopsis crassicaudata (fat-tailed dunnart) 26, 28, 31, 32, 38, 52, 55, 313
digestive function 143
energy requirements 144
life-history strategy 209, 212, 214, 216
social organisation 289–98
and intraspecific competition 290, 294–6
and predation risk 290, 292–4
and resource distribution 290–2
phylogenetic constraints 296–8
social play behaviour 273–7
somatosensory system 183
Sparassodonta (extinct order) 5, 18
relationship to thylacines 10, 12, 14
species (classification category) 4
Spilocuscus maculatus (common spotted cuscus) 153–4, 320
spinal cord 175, 177
marsupial regenerative abilities 177
Sterophodon 21
syndactyly 10–11
T lymphocytes 187–8, 192, 193–4, 195–6, 198
Tachyglossus aculeatus (echidna)
brain 175, 176
discovery of 2
tactile communication 234–6, 246–8
Taeniolophus 21
Tarsipedidae (family) (honey-possum) 7, 16, 97, 318
Tarsipes rostratus (honey-possum) xi–xii, 85, 97, 101, 318
digestive tract 142, 146
energy requirements 148
Tasmanian marsupials 305–6
taxa 3–4
taxonomic lists of marsupials
Americas 322–4
Australia 312–18
Indonesia 319–21
Papua New Guinea 319–21
see also classification of marsupials
teeth see dentition
thermoregulation in young marsupials 121, 122
threat displays 244–6
Thylacinidae (extinct family) 6, 16, 312
Thylacinus cynocephalus (thylacine) 312
extermination 6, 200
fossil record 14
probable life history 217
relationship to sparassodontans 10, 12, 14
replacement by dingo 306
Thylacoleonidae (extinct family) 7
Thylacomyidae (family) 7, 16
Thylacosmilidae (extinct family) 5
Thylamys elegans (fat-tailed opossum) 144, 324
Thylogale billardierii (Tasmanian pademelon) 53, 317
Thylogale thetis (red-necked pademelon) 157, 317
torpor 144, 148, 234
Trichosurus caninus (short-eared possum) 210, 223–4, 317
Trichosurus vulpecula (brushtail possum) 55, 96, 117, 317
asynchronous concurrent lactation 131–3
birth and journey to the pouch 178
dentition 152
digestive tract 149, 152–3
lactation strategy 123, 131
life-history strategy 210, 223–4
milk composition 123, 126
reproductive pattern 106
vigilant behaviour 243–4
visual communication 234–6, 243–6
visual system, development 179–82
vitamin C, marsupial requirements 148
vocalisations 183–4, 234–40
Vombatidae (family) 7, 16, 265
taxonomic list and conservation status 314
Vombatus ursinus (common wombat) 52, 314
colon fermentation 150
dentition 150
digestive tract form and function 149, 150
energy and nutrient requirements 151
Wallabia bicolor (swamp wallaby) 50, 53, 317
wallabies see Macropodidae
water content of foods 137, 139
water requirements
arboreal folivores 154
carnivorous marsupials 144
kangaroos, wallabis and rat-kangaroos 157
wombats 151
wombats see Vombatidae
X chromosome 57–60
Y chromosome 57, 58, 59–63, 79
Yalkaparidontia (extinct order) 4, 7–8, 18–19
Yaralidae (extinct family)
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