marsupials once lived on the planet.These animals with Olympus ousted the more primitive egg-laying.After all, before between Australia and Asia was a land bridge through which animals and plants are distributed.As the sea level changes and movements of continents disappeared this jumper.It took a few million years old, was once a thriving detachment almost completely disappeared and only the forgotten continent, Australia, marsupial life continues to thrive.
These isolated animals evolved and gradually stood out among them prey, herbivorous and carnivorous animals, jump around, run and run form.They are found in the plains and in the forests, underground and in the mountains, there are semi-aquatic and planning forms.Is populated continent and the nearest island, they took almost all ecological niches their environment, and mostly at each other, they do not look like any appearance or size.
marsupial cousin is a rat kangaroo rat inhabiting in Australia and New Guinea.It belongs to the family of marsupial mammals.Total allocated four kinds of rodents marsupials.
tussock rat
So, the first kind of marsupial animals - large rat with a bluish-gray hair and a brush at the tip of the tail.This opossum got its name precisely because of this brush (tussock rats).This genus includes TAFA (wood rat) - predators that can not be tamed, as well as a small opossum, which is a very rare animals under protection.
Most opossum
Tafa or large opossum - a rodent the size of c carnivorous marsupial wood Dasyuridae.It is distinguished piece of silky black hair on the tail.Males of this species do not live long, they reach the age of one year just because they die after breeding.
This animal is painted in black.Tail covered long black hair in its lower part.
habitat and distribution of animal
Tafa is widespread, its range is fragmented on the territory of Australia, excluding Tasmania.Due to violations of the usual environmental conditions, as well as proximity to wild cats and common fox, it is believed that they disappeared from their former habitats.This type of very vulnerable and prone to extinction.
Tafa is a tree hunter and leads nightlife.It eats birds, small mammals, insects and lizards.It can also consume nectar from flowers.
Reproduction
It comes in the period June-August.All males after expansion die reaching one year.Mainly from diseases caused by the loss of the energy used in the pairing.While in captivity, some males survived to 3 years, and they are after the first year are not able to reproduce.Females equip nest in tree hollows.
Grebnehvostye rat
Grebnehvostaya opossum - an animal with legs that do not have a thumb.This kind of marsupial mammals, whose bag is practically absent.The genus 1 species, whose name is similar to the title of all kinds.These animals are considered to be relatives grebnehvostym mice and they have a great similarity.
Grebnehvostaya opossum was found in Central Australia in the XIX century.This kind of marsupial small rodents over the years could not study well.This information makes it impossible to make accurate conclusions about their conservation status and abundance.
representatives of this kind are mainly terrestrial life.They can make the climb to the trees hunger or danger.It is very hardy animals that tolerate extremes of temperature, weather.Living in the deserts and semi-deserts, they can normally take high doses of radiation from the sun, in addition to dispense a long time without water, extracting it from different plants.These little creatures feed on insects and small vertebrates.
Striped rat
striped opossum - it is the third kind of marsupials.They live in the highlands of New Guinea.Characterized by a reddish-brown belly and long muzzle.These whales organize their nests in trees, because they are their main habitat
New Guinean rats
fourth type is a small mammal of the rats with a thick dark short hair, becoming lighter on the belly.It is called New Guinea opossum.Wildlife habitat - trees that grow to a height of 3000 m above sea level.The body length of the animal is 20 cm, the same along the length of its tail.Favorite treat them - insects, but sometimes they can have, and small vertebrates.
Furthermore, among the marsupials separated and possums.This animal is also known as the American opossum.
American opossums
This marsupial small size - the length of their bodies up to 50 cm with a tail length up to 55 cm. Ears neovolosnennye, medium-sized or small.The muzzle is pointed and extended.In most cases, prehensile tail and a long, drawn partially or completely, sometimes at the base of thickened fat deposits.American opossum has a five-fingered, shortened limbs;back slightly longer than the front.On the hind limb thumb large size, deprived of claws and is opposed to the other fingers.
marsupial rats have a very nice view, but they are predators, able to cause harm as a pet, and adult.
