List of adaptive radiated marsupials by form

This is a list of adaptive radiated marsupials by form; they are adaptively radiated marsupial species equivalent to the many niche-types of non-marsupial mammals. Many of the surviving species are from Australia. There are unique types, for example the extinct genus Nototherium, a 'rhinoceros-type'.[1]

The new world has the common opossum, also a unique form.[2]

Even before the mid-19th century and Charles Darwin's time, biogeographers understood speciation and animal niches. A supreme example that became known to Darwin as sailing ships traveled the world is the New Zealand flightless, ground-dwelling, worm-eating kiwi, a bird, but a species in a mammal-niche.

Anteater-like

1 genus–(monotypic)
(2 subspecies)

Anteater-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (anteater-like) Family-Myrmecobiidae Genus-Myrmecobius M. fasciatus (2 subspecies)	Western Australia (2 subspecies)		Numbat, also called0 the banded anteater

Cat-like

1 genus–(6 species)

Cat-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (cat-like) Order-Dasyuromorphia Family- Dasyuridae Genus-Dasyurus D. albopunctatus D. geoffroii D. hallucatus D. maculatus D. spartacus D. viverrinus	Australia & Papua and New Guineas		Tiger quoll

Groundhog-like

6 genera
2 surviving genera

Groundhog-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (groundhog-like) Family-Vombatidae Genera 6 genera			Common wombat

Mole-like

1 genus–(2 species)

Mole-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (mole-like) Genus-Notoryctes N. caurinus N. typhlops			Marsupial mole

Rhinoceros-like

1 genus

Rhinoceros-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (rhinoceros-like) Order-Diprotodontia Sub-Order-Vombatiformes Family-Diprotodontidae Genus-Nototherium	Extinct		Nototherium

Panther-like

6 genera

Panther-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (panther-like) Order-Diprotodontia Family-Thylacoleonidae Genus †Priscileo †Priscileo pitikantensis (Upper Oligocene) †Priscileo roskellyae (Middle Miocene) Subfamily Wakaleoninae Genus †Wakaleo †Wakaleo alcootaensis (Upper Miocene) †Wakaleo oldfieldi (Lower—Upper Miocene) †Wakaleo vanderleueri (Middle—Upper Miocene) Subfamily Thylacoleoninae Genus †Thylacoleo †Thylacoleo carnifex (Pleistocene) †Thylacoleo crassidentatus (Pliocene) †Thylacoleo hilli (Pliocene)	Extinct		Thylacoleo

Flying Squirrel-like

1 genus–(6 species)

Flying Squirrel-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (flying squirrel-like) Genus-Petaurus P. abidi P. australis P. biacensis P. breviceps P. gracilis P. norfolcensis			Sugar glider

Canine-like

1 genus–(1 species)

canine-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (canine-like) Order-Dasyuromorphia Family- Thylacinidae Genus-Thylacinus T. cynocephlus	Extinct		Thylacine, also called Tasmanian wolf or tiger

Hyena-like

1 genus–(1 species)

Hyena-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (hyena-like) Order-Dasyuromorphia Family- Dasyuridae Genus-Sarcophilus S. harrisii	Extirpated from mainland (Tasmania only)		Tasmanian devil

Deer-like

• - Family Macropodidae

Unique: opossum-like

? species

Unique—Opossum-like marsupials
Taxa	Presence	Notes	Images
Marsupial: (opossum-like) Infraclass-Marsupialia Family-Didelphidae Genera Many genera			Virginia opossum

See also

• Marsupial
• Island ecology
• Biogeography

References

1. Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Chapter: Biogeography, Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials, p. 854-855.
2. Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Chapter: Biogeography, Graphic: Adaptive Radiation of Marsupials, p. 854-855.

• Wilson, Eisner, Briggs, Dickerson, Metzenberg, O'Brien, Susman, & Boggs. Life on Earth, Edward O. Wilson, Thomas Eisner, Winslow R. Briggs, Richard E. Dickerson, Robert L. Metzenberg, Richard D. O'Brien, Millard Susman, William E. Boggs, c 1973, Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publisher, Stamford, Connecticut. 1033 pp, 19 p Index & Back Page (hardcover, ISBN 0-87893-934-2)