polyprotodont vs diprotodont
(1999): This page was last edited on 22 February 2021, at 23:49. Conditions of Use. Grass increased over the next several centuries; sclerophyll vegetation increased following a lag of another century, and a sclerophyll forest developed about a thousand years later. [9] Diprotodonts are suggested to have inspired legends of the bunyip, as some Aboriginal tribes identify Diprotodon bones as those of "bunyips".[10]. The Australasian order Diprotodontia is not particularly large (it has just 131 described living species) but is one of the most startlingly diverse of all mammal groups. Build your Jurassic Park from A to Z, on land and out at sea! Petrogale brachyotis (short-eared rock wallaby), Phil Myers (photographer; copyright holder), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Animal Diversity Web Staff (photographer). The limbs are very short, with reduced digits. [31], An examination of swamp sediment cores spanning the last 130,000 years from Lynch's Crater in Queensland suggests that hunting may have been the primary cause of the extinction. Phalangeriformes are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails. Diprotodon, also called giant wombat, extinct genus of marsupial classified in the suborder Vombatiformes and considered to be the largest known group of marsupial mammals. Diprotodon existed from about 1.6 million years ago until extinction some 44,000 years ago.[3]. Their dental formula varies, but is usually somewhere near 4–3.1.2.4 3.1.3.4 × 2 = 42–44. placental - pertaining to or having or occurring by means of a placenta; 2. 2021. The lower lip in the mouthparts of an insect, which is used in feeding and is formed by the fusion of a pair of appendages (the… 2. Charcoal was found throughout the core, suggesting that the arrival of humans and the extinction of megafauna did not change the fire regime at this locality. The majority of Australian marsupials are diprotodont, having two large incisors at the front of the upper jaw, and two in the lower as well. Evidence for the fire hypothesis is the sudden increase in widespread ash deposits at the time that people arrived in Australia, as well as land-management and hunting practices of modern Aboriginal people as recorded by the earliest European settlers. Museum Victoria. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. [16], Some modern researchers, including Richard Roberts and Tim Flannery, argue that diprotodonts, along with a wide range of other Australian megafauna, became extinct shortly after humans arrived in Australia about 50,000 years ago. polyprotodont n any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots Compare → diprotodont (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. To cite this page: Diprotodontia (/ d aɪ ˌ p r oʊ t ə ˈ d ɒ n t i ə /, from Greek "two forward teeth") is an order of about 155 species of marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, koala, wombats, and many others.Extinct diprotodonts include the hippopotamus-sized Diprotodon, and … Diprotodon species fossils have been found in sites across mainland Australia,[n 1] including complete skulls, skeletons, and foot impressions. Monito del monte The monito del monte, or 'monkey of the mountains', is not a monkey, but a South American … diprotodont. A modern example of this is the gender segregation of elephants, where females and the young form family groups, while lone males fight for the right to mate with all the females of the group. We work first to understand your needs and your vision, and then work with you to formulate the most effective, EWcessful marketing solutions strategy Polyprotodont definition: any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Classification. [2] It is considered one of the core species of the "Australian megafauna", which ranged throughout the continent during the Pleistocene. The forefeet have two larg… [20] Linear striated cuts on a Diprotodon tooth from south-eastern Australia initially suggested to have been etched by people are now thought to be bite marks from a spotted‐tailed quoll. ADW Pocket Guides on the iOS App Store! [19] A finite element method analysis of the skull estimated it had a bite force of around 4500 Newtons at the first molar to over 11,000 N at the fourth molar, values which were described as "exceptionally high", suggesting that Diprotodon was capable of processing tough, fibrous food. The lengths (and depths) one goes to find fossils. - Polyprotodont - Didactylous - Long, sparsely haired - Prehensile tails - An opposable pollex. As nouns the difference between polyphyodont and diphyodont is that polyphyodont is any animal whose teeth are continuously replaced while diphyodont is any creature with two successive sets of teeth. An identical dental morphology occurs in the large and small Diprotodon. At present, this represents the only known interaction between humans and Diprotodon. The Southern Marsupial Mole is know to scientists as Notoryctes typhlops.Aboriginal people of the Western Desert call it Itjaritjari (great sounding name!). Disclaimer: Having or characterized by more than two incisor teeth in the lower jaw; especially designating the mainly carnivorous and insectivorous marsupials so characterized (sometimes classified in an order or suborder Polyprotodontia). Alpha/Flickr/CC BY 2.0. Ryan Somma/Flickr/CC BY 2.0. any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots. [12], Diprotodon was named by Owen (1838). Diprotodon - Diprotodon optatum Diprotodon, meaning "two forward teeth", sometimes known as the Giant Wombat or the Rhinoceros Wombat, was the largest known marsupial that ever lived. "Taxonomy and palaeobiology of the largest-ever marsupial, "New Ages for the Last Australian Megafauna: Continent-Wide Extinction About 46,000 Years Ago", Fossil footprints reveal Kangaroo Island's diverse ancient wildlife, Ice Age Marsupial Topped Three Tons, Scientists Say, "The size of the largest marsupial and why it matters", "Science notebook - Australian rock painting", Giant marsupials' graveyard unearthed in Queensland, "Cranial biomechanics, bite force and function of the endocranial sinuses in, "Seasonal migration of marsupial megafauna in Pleistocene Sahul (Australia–New Guinea)", "Climate change frames debate over the extinction of megafauna in Sahul (Pleistocene Australia-New Guinea)", "What caused extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Sahul? Microbiotheria. [34], The third theory says that humans indirectly caused the extinction of diprotodonts by destroying the ecosystem on which they depended. Topics Painter, Eleanor (1890–1947), pair / pe(ə)r/ • n. a set of two things used together or regarded as a unit: a pair of gloves. ( daɪˈprəʊtəʊˌdɒnt) n. (Animals) any marsupial of the group or suborder Diprotodontia, including kangaroos, phalangers, and wombats, having fewer than three upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw. Along with many other members of a group of unusual species collectively called the "Australian megafauna", it existed from approximately 1.6 million years ago until extinction some 46,000 years ago … According to Gause's "competitive exclusion principle", no two species with identical ecological requirements can coexist in a stable environment. Define polyprotodont. A single sexually dimorphic species allows behavioural interpretations. diprotodont n any marsupial of the group or suborder Diprotodontia, including kangaroos, phalangers, and wombats, having fewer than three upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw Compare → polyprotodont (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) [30] A partial juvenile radius of Diprotodon optatum over 47,000 years old was found at the Warratyi rock shelter in South Australia north of Adelaide. polyprotodont in British English. Propalorchestes Murray, 1986 Ngapakaldia Godman s rock - wallaby Petrogale godmani is a diprotodont marsupial, and a typical rock - wallaby. Diprotodont marsupials probably evolved in Australia from polyprotodont marsupials after their transantarctic migration from South America, about 40 million years ago. All sexually dimorphic species of over 5 kg (11 lb) exhibit a polygynous breeding strategy. diprotodont n any marsupial of the group or suborder Diprotodontia, including kangaroos, phalangers, and wombats, having fewer than three upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw Compare → polyprotodont (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) Accessed at https://animaldiversity.org. Search in feature - diprotodont. Opossums and other related orders are all polyprotodon, with as many as five incisors on each side of the upper jaw. The genus is currently considered monotypic, containing only Diprotodon optatum, the largest known marsupial to have ever existed. Compare polyprotodont. In 2012, a significant group of about 40 was found at Eulo, south-west Queensland. n any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and... Polyprotodont - definition of polyprotodont by The Free Dictionary. The majority of fossil finds are of demographic groups indicative of diprotodonts dying in drought conditions. File:Thylacoleo vs Diprotodon.jpg. Diprotodon is an extinct genus of diprotodontid marsupial native to Australia during the Pleistocene epoch.. Diprotodon meaning in Greek "two forward teeth". Critics of this theory regard it as simplistic, arguing that (unlike New Zealand and America), little direct evidence of hunting has been found, and the dates on which the theory rests are too uncertain to be reliable. Their pouch has evolved to face backwards so that it does not fill with sand, and contains just two teats, so that the animal cannot bear more than two young at a time. Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria (WW) Order: Macroscelidea (AF) Family: Macroscelididae (AF) Long tail, hind-limbs, and tail; proboscis. Diprotodon, meaning "two forward teeth", is the largest known marsupial ever to have lived. Diprotodon a.k.a. 'Giant Wombat' and 'Rhinoceros Wombat' Name: Diprotodon (Two forward teeth). Définition polyprotodont dans le dictionnaire anglais de définitions de Reverso, synonymes, voir aussi 'polypod',polyphyodont',polycotton',polypody', expressions, conjugaison, exemples polyprotodont n any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots Compare → diprotodont (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) Family Koala Diprotodont Syndactylous Diprotodontia. Compare diprotodont. It was assigned to the Diprotodontidae by McKenna and Bell (1997). This behaviour is consistent with fossil finds where adult/juvenile fossil assemblages usually contain only female adult remains. Jump to navigation Jump to search. [1] The genus is currently considered monotypic, containing only Diprotodon optatum, the largest known marsupial to have ever existed. They can be distinguished from other metatheres because they are both syndactylous (digits two and three of the hind feet are fully fused except for the claws) and diprotodont (a single pair of incisors dominates the lower jaw, although sometimes an additional pair is present). ( ˌpɒlɪˈprəʊtəʊˌdɒnt) n. (Animals) any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots. The … Similar hunting-out happened with the megafauna of New Zealand, Madagascar, and many smaller islands around the world (such as New Caledonia, the Greater Antilles). The results were compared with those of polyprotodont marsupials, suncuses, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and man. The closest surviving relatives of Diprotodon are the wombats and the koala, and so Diprotodon have sometimes been referred to as "giant wombats" in the popular press. How do you use polyprotodont in a sentence? What are the morphological characteristics of dasyuromorphia ? Until recently, how many species of Diprotodon had existed was unknown. The inferior thyroid artery was extremely rare. As an adjective diphyodont is (anatomy) having two successive sets of teeth (deciduous and permanent), one succeeding the other. Palorchestidae, referred to as marsupial tapirs, contains four genera of diprotodont marsupials. In particular, early Aboriginal people are thought to have been fire-stick farmers using fire regularly and persistently to drive game, open up dense thickets of vegetation, and create fresh green regrowth for both humans and game animals to eat. The head is cone-shaped, with a leathery shield over the muzzle, the body tubular, the tail a short, bald stub. However, both the small and large diprotodonts coexisted throughout the Pleistocene and the size difference is similar to other sexually dimorphic living marsupials. The first recorded Diprotodon remains were discovered in a cave near Wellington, New South Wales, in the early 1830s by bushman George Ranken and Major Thomas Mitchell; the latter sent them to England for study by Sir Richard Owen. The thyroid and thymic arteries in 44 specimens from 18 species belonging to the diprotodont marsupials were investigated. 2. These climatic changes have been suggested as a contributing factor in extinction. Eight species are described, although many researchers believed these actually represented only three at most, while some estimated about 20 in total could exist. 10. of 10. polyprotodont. polyprotodont n any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots Compare → diprotodont (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! [20] Diprotodon is one of several species with confirmed dates post-dating human arrival on the continent, with the latest high-reliability date being around 44 kyr BP. diprotodont: Having two lower front teeth; noting the herbivorous type of dentition in marsupial mammals, in which the median incisors are prominent, and the lateral incisors and canines small or wanting; specifically, having the characters of the genus Diprotodon : opposed to polyprotodont. The extinctions appear to have coincided with the arrival of humans on the continent. File; File history; File usage on Commons; File usage on other wikis; Metadata; Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixels. Contributor Galleries Phonetic: Di-proe-toe-don. No post orbital process; palatal fenestrae present but not diagnostic. Measuring 10 feet long from snout to tail and weighing up to three tons, Diprotodon was the largest pouched mammal that ever lived, outclassing even the giant short-faced kangaroo and the marsupial lion. Taxon Information Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. Polyprotodont definition: any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) English Collins Dictionary - English Definition & Thesaurus. polyprotodont: Having several front teeth: noting the insectivorous or carnivorous dentition of marsupials, in which the incisors are small, several, and much alike, and the canines large and specialized: contrasted with diprotodont. The Austra- lian diprotodont marsupials probably arose from polyprotodont ancestors. Diprotodon may have been the inspiration for the bunyip. optatum. Create flashcards for FREE and quiz yourself with an interactive flipper. diprotodont in a sentence - Use "diprotodont" in a sentence 1. Diprotodon meaning in Greek "two forward teeth". What is the microbiotheria ? Recent research compared the variation between all of the described Diprotodon species with the variation in one of Australia's largest living marsupials, the eastern grey kangaroo, and found the range was comparable, with a near continent-wide distribution. They suggest that many of the extinctions had been staggered over the course of the late Middle Pleistocene and early Late Pleistocene, prior to human arrival, due to climatic stress. [21], Some earlier researchers, including Richard Wright, argued on the contrary that diprotodont remains from several sites, such as Tambar Springs[22] and Trinkey and Lime Springs,[23][24] suggest that Diprotodon survived much longer, into the Holocene. What are synonyms for polyprotodont? Polyprotodont definition is - of or relating to the Polyprotodontia. Evidence against the hypothesis is the fact that humans appear to have eliminated the megafauna of Tasmania without using fire to modify the environment there.[35][36][37]. The results were compared with those of polyprotodont marsupials, suncuses, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and man. The largest marsupial to have ever lived, Australia's giant Diprotodon, may have been a migratory species, an analysis of a 300,000-year-old fossil tooth suggests. There has been considerable aridification of the Australian interior since the Late Miocene. [19] The carbon-13 enamel content was found to have little variation, suggesting a relatively consistent diet through the course of a year containing a mix of both C3 and C4 plants. [20], The overkill theory is that human hunters killed and ate the diprotodonts, causing their extinction. [2] This left only two possible Diprotodon species differing only in size with the smaller being around half the size of the larger. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. diprotodont n any marsupial of the group or suborder Diprotodontia, including kangaroos, phalangers, and wombats, having fewer than three upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw Compare → polyprotodont (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. The thyroid and thymic arteries in 44 specimens from 18 species belonging to the diprotodont marsupials were investigated. [C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont] Help us improve the site by taking our survey. [2] Bimodal dental sizes, rather than a continuum of tooth sizes, and identical male and female dental morphology, indicate sexual dimorphism instead of separate species, thus providing strong evidence that the eight species are synonyms for D. polyprotodont n any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots Compare → diprotodont (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) (C19: from poly- + proto- + -odont) Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Take the Eastern Mole, native to Ontario (below, left). [2] Diprotodon is ultimately thought to have evolved from Euryzygoma dunensis, a smaller diprotodontid known from the Pliocene of eastern Australia, and a smaller form of Diprotodon, labelled D. ?optatum, intermediate in size between the two taxa, is known from the Early Pleistocene (1.77–0.78 Ma) in Nelson Bay near Portland, Victoria. [32] The high-resolution chronology of the changes indicates that fire increased about a century after the disappearance of browsing megafauna, probably due to accumulation of fuel. Paucituberculata. The historical classification of Diprotodon consisted of eight species (D. optatum Owen, 1838; D. australis Owen, 1844; D. annextans McCoy, 1861; D. minor Huxley, 1862; D. longiceps McCoy 1865; D. loderi Krefft, 1873a; D. bennettii Krefft, 1873b (nec D. bennettii Owen, 1877); and D. bennettii Owen, 1877 (nec D. bennettii Krefft, 1873b); based on size or slight morphological differences of single specimens collected from isolated geographic regions. polyprotodont n any marsupial of the group Polyprotodontia, characterized by four or more upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw: includes the opossums and bandicoots Compare → diprotodont Compare → diprotodont Study Mammalogy Lab Exam #2 flashcards. A dos diprotodontes (Diprotodontia) é unha orde de mamíferos marsupiais australidelfos [1] que, sen ser un dos máis ricos en canto a número de especies, si que é un dos máis rechamantes pola diversidade das que o integran.Desde os impoñentes canguros (Macropus sp.) Australia, as with many other areas of the globe, underwent significant ecological change from predominantly forests to open landscapes during the late Neogene, in correlation with increased cooling. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. The results were compared with those of polyprotodont marsupials, suncuses, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and man. National Science Foundation Diprotodont definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Elephant shrew skull. There’s nothing better than finding fossils, right?! Danielle Clode (2009) Prehistoric giants: the megafauna of Australia. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License, © 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. South-central Chile 1 family - Microbiotheriidae (Monito del monte) Nocturnal and arboreal Inhabits dense, humid forests Forage primarily for invertebrates Morphology: - Didactylous - Polyprotodont. The teeth of the marsupial moles are degenerate and bear no resemblance to polyprotodont or diprotodont teeth. [5][6][n 2] Diprotodons may have been depicted on Aboriginal rock art images in Quinkan traditional country (Queensland, Australia). diprotodont n any marsupial of the group or suborder Diprotodontia, including kangaroos, phalangers, and wombats, having fewer than three upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw Compare → polyprotodont (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. What is Dasyuromorphia ? [25] However, opponents of "late extinction" theories have interpreted such late dates based on indirect dating methods as artifacts resulting from redeposition of skeletal material into more recent strata,[3][26] and recent direct dating results obtained with new technologies have tended to confirm this interpretation.[27][28]. [2] Several family groups are thought to have sunk in mud while crossing the drying lake bed. - Polyprotodont - typically many incisors (up to 5 above and 4 below); incisors approximately equal size; includes all known North American and living South American taxa - Diprotodont - upper incisors commonly reduced to 3 pairs or less and lower incisors consist of equal size; includes all known North American and living South American taxa What is the definition of polyprotodont? Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Look it up now! The thyroid and thymic arteries in 44 specimens from 18 species belonging to the diprotodont marsupials were investigated. All members of the order are polyprotodont ( have several pairs of lower front teeth ) & mdash; in the case of the Peramelemorphia, three pairs. The pouch opens towards the front, as is common in diprotodont marsupials, and contains four teats. Phascolarctidaem. Teeth are absent in all adults living species Mandibular fossa located with from ZOOL 4406 at Texas Tech University [32] A study on Sporormiella in cores going back 135,000 years at the Caledonia Fen wetland in Alpine National Park, found that Sporomiella levels rose after the end of the last interglacial, followed by a sharp drop around 76–60 kya, associated with an increased proportion of wetland plants and further grassland and herbfield; a second sharp drop was observed around 52–45 kya, suggested to represent the megafaunal extinction interval. Vombatidae. It is suggested that hepatic transthyretin expression evolved in marsupials during the radiation of herbivorous, diprotodont species in Australia. aos diminutos falanxeros pigmeos (Cercartetus sp.) What is the meaning of polyprotodont? This material is based upon work supported by the Other resolutions: 320 × 213 pixels | 640 × 427 pixels | 850 × 567 pixels. Its feet turned inwards like a wombat's, giving it a pigeon-toed appearance. Find more words at wordhippo.com! Aboriginal rock art images in Quinkan traditional country. Collins English Dictionary. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. [32] Earlier increases in sclerophyll vegetation during shifts to cooler, drier conditions about 120,000 and 75,000 years ago did not have any obvious impact on megafaunal abundance. [11] In the 1840s, Ludwig Leichhardt discovered many Diprotodon bones eroding from the banks of creeks in the Darling Downs of Queensland, and when reporting the find to Owen, commented that the remains were so well preserved, he expected to find living examples in the then-unexplored central regions of Australia. [1][better source needed] The largest specimens were hippopotamus-sized: about 3 m (9.8 ft) from nose to tail, standing 2 m (6.6 ft) tall at the shoulder and weighing about 2,790 kg (6,150 lb). labia) 1. Diprotodont vs Polyprotodont. For example, hundreds of individuals were found in Lake Callabonna with well-preserved lower bodies, but crushed and distorted heads. polyprotodont. No One Is Sure Why It Went Extinct . diprotodont: Having two lower front teeth; noting the herbivorous type of dentition in marsupial mammals, in which the median incisors are prominent, and the lateral incisors and canines small or wanting; specifically, having the characters of the genus Diprotodon : opposed to polyprotodont. [7][8] Diprotodon became extinct sometime after 44,000 years ago, after the initial settlement of the continent; the role of human and climatic factors in its extinction are uncertain and contested. Three theories have been advanced to explain the mass extinction. Dental morphology also supports sexual dimorphism, with highly sexually dimorphic marsupials, such as the grey kangaroo, having different tooth sizes between males and females, but both sexes having the same dental morphology. Its The diprotodonts, with ten families including 117 species, make up the largest order of marsupials. The plural of diprotodont is diprotodonts. The inferior thyroid artery was extremely rare. The superior thyroid artery was constant in three superfamily groups. Due to the shelter's location on a steep escarpment and the lack of bite marks on the bone, it is thought that humans transported the bone to the site. The Paucituberculata is one of these orders. The estimated mean body mass for the 17 adult specimens studied, calculated from the minimum midshaft circumferences of the femur and humerus, is 2,786 kg, although the size of these mammals is believed to be larger because the cartilage is not being accounted for when they fossilize. diprotodont n any marsupial of the group or suborder Diprotodontia, including kangaroos, phalangers, and wombats, having fewer than three upper incisor teeth on each side of the jaw Compare → polyprotodont (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) (C19: from Greek from di-1 + proto- + -odont) ∎ an article or object consisting of two joined or cor… Labium, labium (pl. Microbiotheriidae. They are between 12 and 16 cm long, weigh 40 to 60 grams, and are uniformly covered in fairly short, very fine pale cream to white hair with an iridescent golden sheen. [17][18], Cyclic variations in the strontium isotope ratios within the tooth enamel of a 300,000-year-old fossil imply that a population of Diprotodon undertook regular, seasonal migrations across the Darling Downs, making it the only known extinct or extant metatherian known to migrate annually. These significantly lighten the skull while providing large areas for muscle attachment and reduce load stress.[16]. During the Pleistocene epoch, marsupials (like virtually every other kind of animal on Earth) grew to enormous sizes. John Walter Gregory collected stories of mystical creatures in Aboriginal myths and legends and considered the possible connections between them and extinct species. The superior thyroid artery was constant in three superfamily groups. Its members include animals as superficially different as the teddybear-like koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), the tiny feather-tailed glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), and the magnificent red kangaroo (Macropus rufus). - South-Central Chile - Microbiotheriidae - Nocturnal and arboreal - Inhabits dense humid forests - forage primarily for invertebrates - didactylous. Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey.