Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Marsupials/Answer Key"

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{{Taxobox | color = pink
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{{Taxobox
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| name = Eastern Quoll
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| color = pink
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| status = {{StatusNearConcern}}
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| name = Pademelons
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| regnum = [[Animalia]]
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| image = pademelon.jpg
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| phylum = [[Chordata]]
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| image_width = 200px
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| classis = [[Mammalia]]
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| ordo = [[Dasyuromorphia]]
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
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| familia = [[Dasyuridae]]
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
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| genus = ''[[Dasyurus]]''
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| subclassis = [[Marsupial]]ia
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| species = '''''D. viverrinus'''''
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| ordo = [[Diprotodontia]]
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| binomial = ''Dasyurus viverrinus''
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| familia = [[Macropodidae]]
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| binomial_authority = ([[George Shaw|Shaw]], 1800)
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| subfamilia = [[Macropodinae]]
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| genus = '''''Thylogale'''''
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| genus_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], [[1837]]
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| type_species = ''[[Red-necked Pademelon|Halmaturus (Thylogale) eugenii]]''
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| type_species_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], [[1837]]<br>(= ''Halmaturus thetis'' [[René-Primevère Lesson|Lesson]], [[1828]])
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
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| subdivision =
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* ''[[Tasmanian Pademelon|Thylogale billardierii]]''
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* ''[[Brown's Pademelon|Thylogale browni]]''  
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* ''[[Duskky Pademelon|Thylogale brunii]]''
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* ''[[Calaby's Pademelon|Thylogale calabyi]]''
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* ''[[Mountain Pademelon|Thylogale lanatus]]''
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* ''[[Red-legged Pademelon|Thylogale stigmatica]]''
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* ''[[Red-necked Pademelon|Thylogale thetis]]''
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Eastern Quoll''', ''Dasyurus viverrinus'', is a medium-sized [[carnivorous]] [[dasyurid]] [[marsupial]] native to [[Australia]].  They are now considered extinct on the mainland, but remain widespread and even locally common in [[Tasmania]]. It is one of six extant species of [[quoll]].
 
  
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== Description ==
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A '''pademelon''' is any of seven species of small, [[kangaroo]]-like creatures that are usually found in forests. Pademelons are the smallest of the [[macropod]]s. They poo a lot and wee a lot too. They eat heaps of stuff including rabbits, mailboxes, ford angelinas and much more.
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The Eastern Quoll is generally about the size of a small [[domestic cat]], with an adult male averaging 60cm and weighing approximatly 1.3kg.  Their thick coat is covered by white spots, and ranges in colour from a light fawn to a near black, with an off-white belly. They can be distinguished from the [[Spot-Tail Quoll]] by their slender build, pointed snout and lack of spots on the tail.
 
  
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== Behaviour ==
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Pademelons, [[wallaby|wallabies]], and [[kangaroo]]s are all very alike in body structure, and the names just refer to the three different size groups. Originally wallabies were divided into small and large wallabies, but a more suitable name was needed to differentiate between them. The word "pademelon" is probably a corruption of their aboriginal name.  
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The Eastern Quoll is a solitary predator, hunting at night for its prey of insects and small mammals.  They have also been known to scavenge food from the much larger [[Tasmanian Devil]].
 
  
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The breeding season begins in early winter, and the female gives birth to up to 30 young.  Of these, the first to attach themselves to the six teats will be the only survivors.  Weaning takes place at about 10 weeks of age, with the young staying in the den whilst the mother forages.
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Besides their smaller size, pademelons can be distinguished from wallabies by their shorter, thicker, and sparsely haired tails.  
  
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== Threats ==
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==Distribution and habitat==  
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The main threats to the Eastern Quoll are competition and predation from feral cats and illegal poisoning and trapping. The lack of [[fox]]es and [[dingo]]es in Tasmania is believed to have contributed to the survival of the species.
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[[Image:Tasmanian-pademelon-eating-apple.jpg|thumb|right|Tasmanian pademelon eating a slice of apple, with her joey]][[Image:Tasmanian-pademelons-at-dusk.jpg|thumb|left|Tasmanian pademelons in Narawntapu National Park. The couple on the back is about to mate.]]
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[[Red-necked Pademelon]]s can be found in the coastal regions of [[Queensland]] and [[New South Wales]]. In some places their range has been drastically reduced. [[Red-legged Pademelon]]s can also be found in south-central [[New Guinea]]. The Red-bellied or Tasmanian Pademelon is abundant in [[Tasmania]]. The Dusky Pademelon lives in [[Papua New Guinea]] and surrounding islands.
  
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== References ==
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The natural habitat of the pademelon is in thick scrubland or dense forested undergrowth. They also make tunnels through long grasses and bushes in swampy country.
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*{{MSW3 Groves|pages=25}}
 
  
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== External links ==
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==Diet and behavior==
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*[http://www.esl.com.au/quoll.htm Eastern Quolls at Warrawong Earth Sanctuary, the largest captive breeding program in mainland Australia.]
 
  
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[[Image:Female-pademelon-with-sweet-threequarter.jpg|thumb|right|Female (notice the full pouch) red-legged pademelon eating a slice of [[sweet potato]] on a small private reserve near [[Port Douglas, Queensland]]]]If there are no predators, such as dogs, they graze in the early mornings or evenings on grassy slopes near thickets, into which they can quickly escape at the first sign of danger. Having noticed danger, such as a [[python]], they may try to warn others by stomping their feet on the ground producing surprisingly loud sound. Pademelons are nocturnal and tend to feed at night.
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Their main diet is made up of grasses, leaves, and small shoots. They do little damage to crops and are not as aggressive as wallabies and kangaroos can be, making them gentle pets.
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Normally, a group of females would stay on the territory with males showing up, only when one of the females is ready for mating. This is in contrast to the behavior of bigger kangaroos, who stay in mixed mobs with a male leader.
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==Problems faced==
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Pademelon meat used to be considered valuable, and was eaten by settlers and aborigines for a long time. It was once even suggested that they be introduced to France as a meat supply. Although their (like all kangaroos') meat is very low in fat and cholesterol, Australians today would consider it no more than "second grade" and strongly prefer lamb and beef instead.
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Aside from being killed for their meat and soft fur, their numbers have been reduced by the introduction of predators such as feral cats, dogs, and foxes. The [[rabbit (ecology)|rabbit]] explosion has also caused problems, as rabbits graze on the same grasses making less available for the pademelon. Also, people clearing the land to make room for homes has pushed the larger wallabies and kangaroos into the land that the pademelons had been thriving in for so long.
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Tasmanian Pademelons were important to the [[Thylacine]]'s diet, and are still preyed on by [[quoll]]s, [[Tasmanian Devil]]s, [[Python]]s, and [[Wedge-tailed Eagle]]s. Despite these predators, there are many in Tasmania and its outlying smaller islands, and every year many are killed off to keep their numbers down.
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==Species==
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* [[Tasmanian Pademelon]], ''Thylogale billardierii''
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* [[Brown's Pademelon]], ''Thylogale browni''
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* [[Dusky Pademelon]], ''Thylogale brunii''
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* [[Calaby's Pademelon]], ''Thylogale calabyi''
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* [[Mountain Pademelon]], ''Thylogale lanatus''
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* [[Red-legged Pademelon]], ''Thylogale stigmatica''
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* [[Red-necked Pademelon]], ''Thylogale thetis''
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== History ==
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The Dusky Pademelon was previously called the Aru Island Wallaby. Before that, it was called the Filander. This name occurred in a translation of [[C. de Bruyns Travels]] published in [[1737]].
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==References==
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*{{MSW3 Groves|pages=69}}
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{{1911}}
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[[category:Macropods]]
 
[[Category:Mammals of Australia]]
 
[[Category:Mammals of Australia]]
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[[category:Dasyuromorphs]]
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[[Category:Australian Aboriginal terms]]
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[[de:Filander]]
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[[fr:Thylogale]]
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[[lt:Filanderiai]]
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[[ja:ヤブワラビー属]]

Revision as of 09:08, 18 May 2006

Template:Taxobox

A pademelon is any of seven species of small, kangaroo-like creatures that are usually found in forests. Pademelons are the smallest of the macropods. They poo a lot and wee a lot too. They eat heaps of stuff including rabbits, mailboxes, ford angelinas and much more.

Pademelons, wallabies, and kangaroos are all very alike in body structure, and the names just refer to the three different size groups. Originally wallabies were divided into small and large wallabies, but a more suitable name was needed to differentiate between them. The word "pademelon" is probably a corruption of their aboriginal name.

Besides their smaller size, pademelons can be distinguished from wallabies by their shorter, thicker, and sparsely haired tails.

Distribution and habitat

File:Tasmanian-pademelon-eating-apple.jpg
Tasmanian pademelon eating a slice of apple, with her joey
File:Tasmanian-pademelons-at-dusk.jpg
Tasmanian pademelons in Narawntapu National Park. The couple on the back is about to mate.

Red-necked Pademelons can be found in the coastal regions of Queensland and New South Wales. In some places their range has been drastically reduced. Red-legged Pademelons can also be found in south-central New Guinea. The Red-bellied or Tasmanian Pademelon is abundant in Tasmania. The Dusky Pademelon lives in Papua New Guinea and surrounding islands.

The natural habitat of the pademelon is in thick scrubland or dense forested undergrowth. They also make tunnels through long grasses and bushes in swampy country.

Diet and behavior

File:Female-pademelon-with-sweet-threequarter.jpg
Female (notice the full pouch) red-legged pademelon eating a slice of sweet potato on a small private reserve near Port Douglas, Queensland

If there are no predators, such as dogs, they graze in the early mornings or evenings on grassy slopes near thickets, into which they can quickly escape at the first sign of danger. Having noticed danger, such as a python, they may try to warn others by stomping their feet on the ground producing surprisingly loud sound. Pademelons are nocturnal and tend to feed at night.

Their main diet is made up of grasses, leaves, and small shoots. They do little damage to crops and are not as aggressive as wallabies and kangaroos can be, making them gentle pets.

Normally, a group of females would stay on the territory with males showing up, only when one of the females is ready for mating. This is in contrast to the behavior of bigger kangaroos, who stay in mixed mobs with a male leader.

Problems faced

Pademelon meat used to be considered valuable, and was eaten by settlers and aborigines for a long time. It was once even suggested that they be introduced to France as a meat supply. Although their (like all kangaroos') meat is very low in fat and cholesterol, Australians today would consider it no more than "second grade" and strongly prefer lamb and beef instead.

Aside from being killed for their meat and soft fur, their numbers have been reduced by the introduction of predators such as feral cats, dogs, and foxes. The rabbit explosion has also caused problems, as rabbits graze on the same grasses making less available for the pademelon. Also, people clearing the land to make room for homes has pushed the larger wallabies and kangaroos into the land that the pademelons had been thriving in for so long.

Tasmanian Pademelons were important to the Thylacine's diet, and are still preyed on by quolls, Tasmanian Devils, Pythons, and Wedge-tailed Eagles. Despite these predators, there are many in Tasmania and its outlying smaller islands, and every year many are killed off to keep their numbers down.

Species

History

The Dusky Pademelon was previously called the Aru Island Wallaby. Before that, it was called the Filander. This name occurred in a translation of C. de Bruyns Travels published in 1737.

References

Template:1911 de:Filander fr:Thylogale lt:Filanderiai ja:ヤブワラビー属

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