Dasyuromorphia
Dasyuromorphia Temporal range: Late Oligocene - Recent | |
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Thylacine | |
Scientific classification | |
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Order: | Dasyuromorphia Gill, 1872 |
Families | |
Thylacinidae (extinct) |
Dasyuromorphia are fair-sized order of some of the more unusual carnivorous or insectivorous marsupials. They vary in appearance, from rodent-like to shrew-like to cat-like to dog-like. This order includes the ever-famous Tasmanian devil. In this order, most of the marsupials have a pouch on the belly. However, some of the broad-footed marsupial mice have only folds of skin instead of true pouches, and the numbat lacks a pouch entirely. There are 63 species in 3 families, although one of the families is probably extinct:
- Dasyuridae (quolls, native cats, marsupial mice, Tasmanian devils) 61 species
- Myrmecobiidae (numbats) 1 species
- Thylacinidae (Tasmanian wolf or thylacine - probably extinct) 1 species