Order: DiprotodontiaDiprotodontia Suborder: PhalangeriformesPhalangeriformes Family: Pseudocheiridae Ringtail possums Pseudochirops archeri (green ringtail possum) Phascolarctos cinereus (koala) Order: DiprotodontiaDiprotodontia Suborder: PhalangeriformesPhalangeriformes Family: PseudocheiridaePseudocheiridae Subfamily: HemibelideinaeHemibelideinae Genus: PetauroidesPetauroides Species: Petauroides volans Petauroides volans (greater glider) Bacterial Fermenters: Foregut Bacterial Fermenters: Hindgut Macropodidae Dendrolagus goodfellowi pulcherrimus

CharacterMarsupial statePlacental state Diversity6% of living mammal species94% of living mammal species sizenot as largelarger range of body sizes structural adaptationsless diverseflying (wings), marine (fins) Reproduction [Figs. 10.7] brief gestation; semiembryonic young; body mass 1% of mother. Need for precocious grasping forelimbs may constrain adaptability long gestation period; young more developed at birth; body mass up to 50% of mother Placenta [Fig. 9.11]choriovitelline (usually) chorioallantoic Lactation period [Fig. 10.7] longshort Investment of energy in motherhood lower, altricial young higher, reproduce more rapidly (usually), precocial young Cerebral Cortex/ Braincase smooth and complex, slow development, smaller volume (maybe) fast development, greater volume (maybe) Behavioural plasticityuncommongreat range of behaviours Territorialityuncommoncommon and important Antipredator behaviournot well developed highly developed, particularly in herding animals; capable of sustained high speeds Epipubic bonespresentabsent Baculum [Fig. 9.3]absentpresent Auditory bullaederived from alisphenoid bonevaries, but not alisphenoid primitive dental formula5/4-1/1-3/3-4/43/3-1/1-4/4-3/3

Recall- chorioallantoic placenta in Order Peramelemorphia