Life of MarsupialsDrawing on the latest research from around the world, Life of Marsupials explores this unusual group of mammals covering the extraordinary diversity of forms around the world, including Australia, New Guinea and the Americas. Despite their long separate evolution there are extraordinary similarities in which marsupials have solved the challenges of living in environments such as deserts, alpine snowfields and tropical rainforests. Some can live on grass and others on leaves; and some can glide, swim and others can hop with extraordinary efficiency. This book covers the biology of all marsupial families and how they have evolved. The author's original text, also called Life of Marsupials published in 1973, was the first student textbook on marsupials. In this completely re-written edition, he brings a lifetime's experience and masterly insights into the lives of these fascinating mammals. |
Contents
What is a marsupial? | 1 |
Reproduction and development | 37 |
Opossums of the Americas cousins from a distant time | 103 |
Predatory marsupials of Australasia brighteyed killers of the night | 139 |
Bandicoots fastliving opportunists | 165 |
Pygmy possums and sugar gliders pollen eaters and sap suckers | 183 |
Life in the trees koala greater glider and possums | 219 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abundant adaptations adult animals antechinus Australian Journal bandicoots birth body mass body temperature breeding brushtail possum burrowing bettong cells Chapter chromosomes common ringtail possum corpus luteum dasyurids diapause Didelphis diet dunnart eastern Ecology embryo energy Eucalyptus euros extinct feeding females folivores forest fossil greater glider Guinea habitat hairy-nosed wombat home range honey possum hormone Hume increase insects Journal of Zoology koala litter living macropod Macropus eugenii males Marsupialia marsupials metabolic rate milk million years ago molars nitrogen northern occur oestrus pattern Petaurus Petrogale placental mammals plant population pouch young progesterone prolactin protein Queensland quoll rainforest red kangaroos Renfree reproduction rock wallabies season South America South Wales southern southern hairy-nosed wombat sperm sugar gliders survive tammar wallaby Tasmania teats teeth trees Trichosurus vulpecula Tyndale-Biscoe uterus Virginia opossum weaned Western Australia western grey kangaroos Wildlife Research yellow-bellied glider Zealand