Dasyuromorphia

Giant Quoll ( Dasyurus maculatus )

• Dasyuridae ( Dasyuridae )
• Ants Beutler ( Myrmecobiidae )
• Bag Wolves † ( Thylacinidae )

The Dasyuridae -like ( Dasyuromorphia ) form an order within the marsupial ( Metatheria ). Most carnivorous marsupials belong to this order. Many species have been ordered by European settlers names that lean against higher mammals, such as " Quoll ", " Tasmanian wolf ", " bag mice ". However, the similarities between the predatory marsupials and their names are based on models of convergent evolution.

Description

Many Dasyuridae -type differ only slightly in their physique, but considerably in size. Many bags mice reach only about the size of a mouse and are among the smallest marsupials at all, while the Tasmanian devil with tail about 1 m long and can reach a weight of over 10 kg. The extinct thylacine was even greater. They are all clever, nimble hunters that feed depending on the size of insects and vertebrates. Some species also eat carrion.

Dissemination

The Dasyuridae -like arriving in Australia, in New Guinea, Tasmania, and some other islands.

System

The order consists of two recent and one extinct family:

• The Dasyuridae ( Dasyuridae ) comprise approximately 60 species, they include, among others, the quoll, the Tasmanian Devil as well as several kinds of bags mice.
• The Numbat ( Myrmecobius fasciatus ) or ants Beutler is in a family, Myrmecobiidae, like.
• A third family, the Thylacinidae, also included only one type, the thylacine ( Thylacinus cynocephalus ); This has however been eradicated in the early 20th century.

The bag extinct lions ( Thylacoleonidae ), however, were not among the Dasyuridae -like, but in the order DIPROTODONTIA.