Dasyuromorphia

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dasyuromorphia
Temporal range: Late Oligocene - Recent
Thylacine
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Infraclass:
Order:
Dasyuromorphia

Gill, 1872
Families

Thylacinidae (extinct)
Dasyuridae
Myrmecobiidae

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: