Diprotodontia is a clade of marsupials, consisting of about 155 species. Examples of diprotodontians are gliders, kangaroos, koalas, possums, wallabies and wombats. Until recently, two major suborders, Phalangerida and Vombatiformes, were recognized; as of 1997, three suborders (Macropodiformes, Phalangeriformes, and Vombatiformes) are recognized.[1]
Fossils[]
The earliest identifiable diprotodontian, Hypsipyrmnodon bartholomaii (part of the genus now including musky rat-kangaroos) lived during the Early Miocene.[2] The fossil record of diprotodontians is by far the most complete of any marsupial clade, with popular examples of extinct taxa being Diprotodon optatum, Procoptodon goliah, and Thylacoleo carnifex. Extinct species sometimes exhibited unusual modes of locomotion; P. goliah, and presumably most other sthenurine macropods, actually walked, unlike the hopping gait of modern kangaroos.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Springer, M.S. & Kirsch, J.A.W. & Case, Judd. (1997). The chronicle of marsupial evolution. Molecular Evolution and Adaptive Radiation. 129-161.
- ↑ T. Flannery and M. Archer. 1987. Hypsiprymnodon bartholomaii (Potoroidae: Marsupialia), a new species from the Miocene Dwornamor Local Fauna and a reassessment of the phylogenetic position of H. mochatus. In M. Archer (ed.), Possums and Opossums: Studies in Evolution. 2: 749-758
- ↑ Janis, CM; Buttrill, K; Figueirido, B (2014). "Locomotion in Extinct Giant Kangaroos: Were Sthenurines Hop-Less Monsters?". PLOS ONE. 9 (10): e109888. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j9888J. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109888. PMC 4198187. PMID 25333823.