Evolution Asia or North America (Lauraisa, ~ 125 MYA)Asia Complex biogeography, related to the formation and rupture of Gondwanaland Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae Didelphis - American opossum Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae Marmosa - mouse opossum Monodelphis short-tailed opossum Order Paucituberculata, Family Caenolestidae Caenolestes, Lestoros, Rhyncholestes - shrew opossums Caenolestes convelatus Order Microbiotheria, Family Microbiotheriidae Dromiciops - montio del monte Australian Groups Order Dasyuromorphia, Family Dasyuridae Sarcophilus - Tasmanian devil SF Dasyurine, Dasyurus maculatus (spotted-tailed quoll) SF Sminthopsinae, Sminthopsis longicaudata (long-tailed dunnart) Order Dasyuromorphia, Family Thylacinidae Thylacinus cynocephalus - Tasmanian wolf Order Dasyuromorphia, Family Myrmecobiidae Myrmecobius - numbat Myrmecophagus adaptations: Long rostrum Long, protrusible tongue Delicate dentary Copious, sticky saliva Teeth reduced/absent Forelimbs modified for digging Order Notoryctemorphia Order Notoryctemorphia, Family Notoryctidae Notoryctes - marsupial mole Fossorial Adaptations Small eyes and small pinnae Fur is velvety doesn t lie in one direction Fusiform body with a short tail Forelimbs modified for digging Order Peremelemorphia Order Peramelemorphia, Family Peramelidae Macrotis lagotis - rabbit-eared bandicoot (bilby) Syndactylous - one sheath of skin for >1 digit (2nd & 3rd). Order Diprotodontia Order Diprotodontia, Family Phalangeridae Spilocuscus rufoniger, S. maculatus- spotted cuscus Arboreal - Prehensile tail which has a naked ventral surface. Order Diprotodontia, Family Petauridae Petaurus breviceps - sugar glider Order Diprotodontia, Family Phascolarctidae Phascolarctus cinereus - koala 2nd & 3rd digits syndactylous Order Diprotodontia, Family Phascolarctidae Phascolarctus cinereus - koala - Our first example of an arboreal foliavore low quality food eat almost constantly while awake sleep to digest low metabolism heterothermic dense fur to retain body heat Order Diprotodontia, Family Vombatidae Lasiorhinus - hairy-nosed wombat L. Krefftii - northern Order Diprotodontia, Family Macropodidae Macropus rufus - red kangaroo Extreme adaptations for saltation (bipedal hopping) (boxing)boxing Order Diprotodontia, Family Macropodidae Dendrolagus - tree kangaroo Dendrolagus matschiei (Matschie's Tree-kangaroo) Dendrolagus bennettianus (Bennett's Tree-kangaroo) Order Diprotodontia, Family Macropodidae Petrogale penicillata Common Name: Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby