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

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{{Taxobox
+
{{honor_header|Unknown|Unknown|Nature|South Pacific Division}}
| color = pink
+
==1. Distinguish:==
| name = Quolls<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=24-25}}</ref>
+
===a. Mammal from other animals.===
| image = Dasyurus viverrinus.jpg
+
The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, which in females produce milk for the nourishment of young.
| image_width = 200px
 
| image_caption = [[Eastern Quoll]] (''Dasyurus viverrinus'')
 
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
 
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
 
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
 
| infraclassis = [[Marsupial]]ia
 
| ordo = [[Dasyuromorphia]]
 
| familia = [[Dasyuridae]]
 
| subfamilia = [[Dasyurinae]]
 
| tribus = [[Dasyurini]]
 
| genus = '''''Dasyurus'''''
 
| genus_authority = [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|É. Geoffroy]], 1796
 
| type_species = ''[[Eastern Quoll|Didelphis maculata]]''
 
| type_species_authority = [[anonymous|Anon.]], 1791<br>(= ''Didelphis viverrina'' [[George Shaw|Shaw]], 1800
 
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
 
| subdivision =
 
See text.
 
}}
 
'''Quolls''' or '''native cats''' (genus '''''Dasyurus''''') are [[carnivorous]] [[marsupial]]s, native to [[Australia]] and [[Papua New Guinea]]. Adults are between 25 and 75&nbsp;[[Centimeter|cm]] long, with hairy tails about 20-35&nbsp;cm long. Females have six to eight nipples and develop a pouch&mdash;which opens towards the tail&mdash;only during the breeding season, when they are rearing young. The babies are the size of a grain of rice. Quolls live both in forests and in open valley land. Though primarily ground-dwelling, they have developed secondary arboreal characteristics. They do not have prehensile tails, but do have ridges on the pads of their feet.<ref name=mammals>{{cite book | title = Mammals | author = McCay, George | publisher = Fog City Press | year = 1999}}</ref> Their molars and canines are strongly developed.  
 
  
The tribe [[Dasyurini]] to which quolls belong also includes the [[Tasmanian Devil]], [[antechinus]]es, the [[Kowari]], and [[mulgara]]s.<ref name=msw3/>
+
===b. Placentals, marsupials and monotremes from one another.===
 +
;Placentals: The placentals are distinguished from other mammals in that the fetus is nourished during pregnancy via a placenta. 
  
== Taxonomy ==
+
;Marsupials:Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium) in which it rears its young through early infancy. They differ from placental mammals in their reproductive traits. 
Within the genus ''Dasyurus'', the following species exist:<ref name=msw3/>
 
* [[New Guinean Quoll]], ''Dasyurus albopunctatus'', New Guinea
 
* [[Western Quoll]] or Chuditch, ''Dasyurus geoffroii'', western Australia
 
* [[Northern Quoll]], ''Dasyurus hallucatus'', northern Australia
 
* [[Tiger Quoll]] or Spotted Quoll, ''Dasyurus maculatus'', eastern Australia
 
* [[Bronze Quoll]], ''Dasyurus spartacus'', New Guinea
 
* [[Eastern Quoll]], ''Dasyurus viverrinus'', [[Tasmania]] (formerly mainland eastern Australia)
 
  
Different species of quolls show little difference in body shape, though they do have distinguishing characteristics. For example, the Tiger Quoll can be identified by its white spots and large canines.<ref name=mammals/>
+
;Monotremes: Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals.
  
The name ''Dasyurus'' means "hairy-tail",<ref name=Strahan>{{Citation|last1=Serena|first1=M.|last2=Soderquist|first2=T.|year=1995|contribution=Western Quoll|editor-first=Ronald|editor-last=Strahan|title=The Mammals of Australia|publisher=Reed Books|pages=62-64}}</ref> and was coined by [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]] in 1796. The first species described, the [[Tiger Quoll]], was originally placed in the [[opossum|American opossum]] genus ''[[Didelphis]]''The western Quall is a small cat that loves to eat meat but hates to eat fruits. It also is being eaten by foxes so it is becoming extinct
+
==2. Understand how marsupials are classified into families and describe, in a general way, the habits of these families.==
 +
Marsupials are classed mainly by their dietary habits.
 +
;Herbivorous marsupials: (such as kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, and possums) eat only plants.   
 +
;Carnivorous marsupials: (such as tasmanian devils, numbats, and quolls) eat only meat.  They are very similar to one another in shape, though their sizes vary considerably.
 +
;Omnivorous Marsupials: (such as opposums) eat just about anything they can find.
  
==References==
+
==3. Describe the distribution, habitat (ie. type of country they live in), diet breeding behavior, as well as any other interesting information of twelve different groups of marsupials and monotremes.==
{{reflist}}
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:AwesomePossum-AmericanOpossum.jpg|Opossum
 +
Image:Shrew opossum - Caenolestidae.png|Shrew Opossum
 +
Image:Tasdevil large.jpg|Tasmanian Devil
 +
Image:Numbat at Perth Zoo.jpg|Numbat
 +
Image:SpottedQuoll 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|Quoll
 +
Image:Kangaroo and joey03.jpg|Kangaroo
 +
Image:Red-necked-Wallaby.jpg|Wallaby
 +
Image:Brushtail possum.jpg|Possum
 +
Image:Koala climbing tree.jpg|Koala
 +
Image:Wombat at Lone Pine.jpg|Wombat
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Opossums===
 +
Opossums are nocturnal marsupials found in the Western Hemisphere.  They are small to medium-sized creatures, about the size of a large house cat.  Although there are many exceptions, most of them spend time living both in trees and on the ground, and they eat many different things (plants and animals).
 +
 
 +
Opossums are usually nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available. Though they will temporarily occupy abandoned burrows, they do not dig or put much effort into building their own. They favor dark, secure areas, below ground or above.
 +
 
 +
When threatened or harmed, they will "play possum", mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. The lips are drawn back, teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from glands. This response is involuntary, rather than a conscious act. Their stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away. Many injured opossums have been killed by well-meaning people who find a catatonic animal and assume the worst. If you find an injured or apparently dead opossum, the best thing to do is leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. In minutes or hours, the animal will regain consciousness and escape quietly on its own.
 +
 
 +
===Shrew Opossums===
 +
Shrew opossums (also known as rat opossums) are about the size of a small rat (9–14 cm long), with thin limbs, a long, pointed snout and a slender, hairy tail. They are largely meat-eaters, being active hunters of insects, earthworms and small vertebrates. They have small eyes and poor sight, and hunt in the early evening and at night, using their hearing and long, sensitive whiskers to locate prey. They seem to spend much of their lives in underground burrows and on surface runways.
 +
 
 +
Largely because of their rugged, inaccessible habitat, they are very poorly known and have traditionally been considered rare. Recent studies suggest that they may be more common than had been thought.
 +
 
 +
===Tasmanian Devil===
 +
===Numbat===
 +
===Dunnart===
 +
===Quoll===
 +
===Kangaroos===
 +
There are three species of kangaroo:
 +
* The '''Red Kangaroo''' (Macropus rufus) is the largest surviving marsupial anywhere in the world. Fewer in numbers, the Red Kangaroos occupy the arid and semi-arid centre of the continent. A large male can be 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 90 kg (200 lb).
 +
* The '''Eastern Grey Kangaroo''' (Macropus giganteus) is less well-known than the red (outside of Australia), but the most often seen, as its range covers the fertile eastern part of the continent.
 +
* The '''Western Grey Kangaroo''' (Macropus fuliginosus) is slightly smaller again at about 54 kg (119 lb) for a large male. It is found in the southern part of Western Australia, South Australia near the coast, and the Darling River basin.
 +
 
 +
===Wallabies===
 +
 
 +
Essentially, a wallaby is any macropod that isn't large enough to be considered a kangaroo and has not been given some other name. There is no fixed dividing line. In general, a wallaby is smaller and has a stockier build than a kangaroo; a wallaroo is any of a few species somewhat intermediate in size between a wallaby and a kangaroo.
 +
 
 +
===Possums===
 +
Possums are small marsupials with brown or grey fur, ranging in size from the length of a finger (pygmy possums and wrist-winged gliders), to the length of a forearm (brushtails and ringtails). All possums are nocturnal and omnivorous, hiding in a nest in a hollow tree during the day and coming out during the night to forage for food. They fill much the same role in the Australian ecosystem that squirrels fill in the northern hemisphere and are broadly similar in appearance.
 +
 
 +
The two most common species of possums, the Common Brushtail and Common Ringtail, are also among the largest.
 +
 
 +
===Koalas===
 +
 
 +
The Koala is broadly similar in appearance to the wombat, but has a thicker, more luxurious coat, much larger ears, and longer limbs, which are equipped with large, sharp claws to assist with climbing. Weight varies from about 14 kg for a large, southern male, to about 5 kg for a small northern female. Contrary to popular belief, their fur is thick, not soft and cuddly. Koalas' five fingers per paw are arranged with the first two as opposable thumbs, providing better gripping ability.
 +
 
 +
===Wombats===
 +
Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately one meter (3 feet) in length and with a very short tail. Wombats have an extraordinarily slow metabolism, taking around 14 days to complete digestion, and generally move slowly. When required, however, they can reach up to 40 km/h and maintain that speed for up to 90 seconds.
 +
 
 +
When attacked, they can summon immense reserves of strength — one defense of a wombat against a predator (such as a Dingo) underground is to crush it against the roof of the tunnel until it stops breathing.
 +
 
 +
==4. Be able to explain the difference between marsupial reproduction and that in true mammals (ie. placentals).==
 +
The pregnant female marsupial develops a kind of yolk sack in her womb which delivers nutrients to the embryo. The embryo is born at a very early stage of development (at about 4-5 weeks), upon which it crawls up its mother's belly and attaches itself to a nipple (which is located inside the pouch). It remains attached to the nipple for a number of weeks. The offspring later passes through a stage where it temporarily leaves the pouch, returning for warmth and nourishment.
  
{{marsupial-stub}}
+
The placenta is a temporary organ composed of two parts, one of which is part of the fetus, the other part of the mother. It is implanted in the wall of the uterus, where it receives nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood and passes out waste. This interface forms a barrier, the placental barrier, which filters out some substances which could harm the fetus.
{{MEA-expand}}
 
  
[[Category:Dasyuromorphs]]
+
==5. Explain the significance of the direction of opening of the pouch and the number of young per litter in marsupials.==
[[Category:Australian Aboriginal words and phrases]]
+
==6. Give an explanation of the unique occurrence of marsupials in Australia.==
[[Category:Mammals of Australia]]
+
==7. Be able to explain the need for conservation of our marsupials.==
 +
==8. Write a report of your visit to a natural history museum, wild-life sanctuary, zoo, etc. indicating in about 10-15 lines, the extent of your observations.==
 +
==References==
  
[[de:Beutelmarder]]
+
[[Category:Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book|{{SUBPAGENAME}}]]
[[es:Dasyurus]]
 
[[fr:Dasyurus]]
 
[[nl:Buidelmarters]]
 
[[pl:Dasyurus]]
 
[[pt:Quoll]]
 
[[ru:Сумчатая куница]]
 
[[th:ควอลล์]]
 
[[zh:袋鼬属]]
 

Revision as of 01:08, 4 October 2007

Template:Honor header

1. Distinguish:

a. Mammal from other animals.

The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, which in females produce milk for the nourishment of young.

b. Placentals, marsupials and monotremes from one another.

Placentals
The placentals are distinguished from other mammals in that the fetus is nourished during pregnancy via a placenta.
Marsupials
Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium) in which it rears its young through early infancy. They differ from placental mammals in their reproductive traits.
Monotremes
Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals.

2. Understand how marsupials are classified into families and describe, in a general way, the habits of these families.

Marsupials are classed mainly by their dietary habits.

Herbivorous marsupials
(such as kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, and possums) eat only plants.
Carnivorous marsupials
(such as tasmanian devils, numbats, and quolls) eat only meat. They are very similar to one another in shape, though their sizes vary considerably.
Omnivorous Marsupials
(such as opposums) eat just about anything they can find.

3. Describe the distribution, habitat (ie. type of country they live in), diet breeding behavior, as well as any other interesting information of twelve different groups of marsupials and monotremes.

Opossums

Opossums are nocturnal marsupials found in the Western Hemisphere. They are small to medium-sized creatures, about the size of a large house cat. Although there are many exceptions, most of them spend time living both in trees and on the ground, and they eat many different things (plants and animals).

Opossums are usually nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available. Though they will temporarily occupy abandoned burrows, they do not dig or put much effort into building their own. They favor dark, secure areas, below ground or above.

When threatened or harmed, they will "play possum", mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. The lips are drawn back, teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from glands. This response is involuntary, rather than a conscious act. Their stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away. Many injured opossums have been killed by well-meaning people who find a catatonic animal and assume the worst. If you find an injured or apparently dead opossum, the best thing to do is leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. In minutes or hours, the animal will regain consciousness and escape quietly on its own.

Shrew Opossums

Shrew opossums (also known as rat opossums) are about the size of a small rat (9–14 cm long), with thin limbs, a long, pointed snout and a slender, hairy tail. They are largely meat-eaters, being active hunters of insects, earthworms and small vertebrates. They have small eyes and poor sight, and hunt in the early evening and at night, using their hearing and long, sensitive whiskers to locate prey. They seem to spend much of their lives in underground burrows and on surface runways.

Largely because of their rugged, inaccessible habitat, they are very poorly known and have traditionally been considered rare. Recent studies suggest that they may be more common than had been thought.

Tasmanian Devil

Numbat

Dunnart

Quoll

Kangaroos

There are three species of kangaroo:

  • The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest surviving marsupial anywhere in the world. Fewer in numbers, the Red Kangaroos occupy the arid and semi-arid centre of the continent. A large male can be 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 90 kg (200 lb).
  • The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is less well-known than the red (outside of Australia), but the most often seen, as its range covers the fertile eastern part of the continent.
  • The Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) is slightly smaller again at about 54 kg (119 lb) for a large male. It is found in the southern part of Western Australia, South Australia near the coast, and the Darling River basin.

Wallabies

Essentially, a wallaby is any macropod that isn't large enough to be considered a kangaroo and has not been given some other name. There is no fixed dividing line. In general, a wallaby is smaller and has a stockier build than a kangaroo; a wallaroo is any of a few species somewhat intermediate in size between a wallaby and a kangaroo.

Possums

Possums are small marsupials with brown or grey fur, ranging in size from the length of a finger (pygmy possums and wrist-winged gliders), to the length of a forearm (brushtails and ringtails). All possums are nocturnal and omnivorous, hiding in a nest in a hollow tree during the day and coming out during the night to forage for food. They fill much the same role in the Australian ecosystem that squirrels fill in the northern hemisphere and are broadly similar in appearance.

The two most common species of possums, the Common Brushtail and Common Ringtail, are also among the largest.

Koalas

The Koala is broadly similar in appearance to the wombat, but has a thicker, more luxurious coat, much larger ears, and longer limbs, which are equipped with large, sharp claws to assist with climbing. Weight varies from about 14 kg for a large, southern male, to about 5 kg for a small northern female. Contrary to popular belief, their fur is thick, not soft and cuddly. Koalas' five fingers per paw are arranged with the first two as opposable thumbs, providing better gripping ability.

Wombats

Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately one meter (3 feet) in length and with a very short tail. Wombats have an extraordinarily slow metabolism, taking around 14 days to complete digestion, and generally move slowly. When required, however, they can reach up to 40 km/h and maintain that speed for up to 90 seconds.

When attacked, they can summon immense reserves of strength — one defense of a wombat against a predator (such as a Dingo) underground is to crush it against the roof of the tunnel until it stops breathing.

4. Be able to explain the difference between marsupial reproduction and that in true mammals (ie. placentals).

The pregnant female marsupial develops a kind of yolk sack in her womb which delivers nutrients to the embryo. The embryo is born at a very early stage of development (at about 4-5 weeks), upon which it crawls up its mother's belly and attaches itself to a nipple (which is located inside the pouch). It remains attached to the nipple for a number of weeks. The offspring later passes through a stage where it temporarily leaves the pouch, returning for warmth and nourishment.

The placenta is a temporary organ composed of two parts, one of which is part of the fetus, the other part of the mother. It is implanted in the wall of the uterus, where it receives nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood and passes out waste. This interface forms a barrier, the placental barrier, which filters out some substances which could harm the fetus.

5. Explain the significance of the direction of opening of the pouch and the number of young per litter in marsupials.

6. Give an explanation of the unique occurrence of marsupials in Australia.

7. Be able to explain the need for conservation of our marsupials.

8. Write a report of your visit to a natural history museum, wild-life sanctuary, zoo, etc. indicating in about 10-15 lines, the extent of your observations.

References