Topic
Phascolarctos
About: Phascolarctos is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 17 publications have been published within this topic receiving 466 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: A comprehensive classification of marsupials is presented, which follows Ride's multiordinal scheme, except that the perameloids are included with didelphoids, dasyuroids, and Notoryctes in Order Polyprotodonta.
Abstract: Serological techniques, featuring extensive use of antisera prepared in marsupials, were used to compare some 2000 sera representing about 100 species from all of the families of living marsupials except Thylacinidae. The results were analysed logically and by two methods of numerical taxonomy, one of which generated phenogiams and three-dimensional representations of affinities. The broadest grouping of marsupials contrasts the Australian forms with two equally distinct American groups, the Didelphidae and Caenolestidae. However, Dromiciops probably represents a third American family, the otherwise extinct Microbiotheriidae, which is closest to Didelphidae; but Caluromys is a true didelphid. There are four equally distinct groups of Australian marsupials: Notoryctes, Tarsipes, the remaining Diprotodonta, and Dasyuroidea with Perameloidea. Myrmecobius is closest to the dasyurids, Macrotis is analogously distinct within Perameloidea, and Phascolarctos has its greatest affinities with Lasiorkinus and Vombatus: the latter three genera group together in contrast to Macropodidae and the Phalangeridae of earlier authors. The genera of the latter family comprise three groups no more similar to each other than to Macropodidae, and the various phalangers examined may be arranged in three familial groups: the Burramyidae (Burramys, Cercartetus, Acrobates), the Petauridae (Petaurus, Pseudockeirus, Schoinobates), and the Phalangeridae (Pkalanger, ZYickosurus, Wyulda). The Macropodidae is divided along classical lines (Potoroinae v. Macropodinae), with the genera of macropodines for the most part following the groups indicated by their chromosomal similarities. Phylogenetic inferences were drawn from these data, and a comprehensive classification of marsupials is presented. This classification represents an attempt to integrate the serological data with other information; however, at the highest level, it follows Ride's multiordinal scheme, except that the perameloids are included with didelphoids, dasyuroids, and Notoryctes in Order Polyprotodonta. The classification is thus non-cladistic at this level, but reflects more accurately the serological groupings in distinguishing taxa in the family-group categories.
174 citations
TL;DR: Comparison with the extant koala Phascolarctos cinereus and other diprotodontian marsupials reveals a high degree of similarity in basicranial morphology between fossil and modern phascolarCTids but substantial differences in the architecture of the masticatory system.
Abstract: Partial crania of two fossil species of koala (family Phascolarctidae) from Oligo-Miocene deposits in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, one referable to Litokoala kutjamarpensis and another to Nimiokoala greystanesi, are described. Comparison with the extant koala Phascolarctos cinereus and other diprotodontian marsupials reveals a high degree of similarity in basicranial morphology between fossil and modern phascolarctids but substantial differences in the architecture of the masticatory system. Key specialisations present in Phascolarctos but absent in both Litokoala and Nimiokoala include forward displacement of the palate, enlargement of the occlusal surface of the molar teeth, thickening of the maxillae above the toothrow with resultant lowering of the occlusal plane of the cheekteeth relative to the glenoid fossa, and a decrease in the size of the pterygoid fossae. These extreme aspects of the cranial morphology of Phacolarctos probably reflect its dependence on eucalypt leaves, a nutrie...
25 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Acute leukemia has been noted as occurring in a male New South Wales koala, and this appears to be the second reported instance of leukemia on record in this species.
Abstract: Summary Acute leukemia has been noted as occurring in a male New South Wales koala, and this appears to be the second reported instance of leukemia on record in this species.
17 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that food selectivity among koalas is probably due to multiple factors, rather than only a consequence of secondary plant chemicals, which probably interact to shape koala foraging preferences.
Abstract: Koalas specialize on Eucalyptus leaves, but also feed selectively. Food choice is not random, but depends on various factors that are not well understood, although most research has focused on the role of secondary plant compounds. We studied the feeding choices of four adult male koalas housed at the San Diego Zoo. All subjects had a choice of nine types of Eucalyptus leaves over the eight-week study. The most preferred species was E. camuldulensis, but individual males exhibited different feeding preferences. We conclude that food selectivity among koalas is probably due to multiple factors, rather than only a consequence of secondary plant chemicals. A combination of intrinsic factors, such as developmental trajectory and reproductive state, as well as extrinsic factors, such as leaf chemical fingerprint and moisture, probably interact to shape koala foraging preferences. Koalas forage almost exclusively on Eucalyptus species, but have evolved an adaptive flexibility, enabling them to exploit various Eucalyptus species.
12 citations
TL;DR: The new phascolarctid material documented here is from the early Pleistocene Nelson Bay Local Fauna, Portland, Victoria, which is therefore an important additional southern occurrence of a species larger than the living P. stirtoni.
Abstract: THE pre Holocene-Late Pleistocene record of Phascolarctos in Australia is extremely meagre. There are at least two, possibly three extinct species of Phascolarctos in addition to the extant Phascolarctos cinereus (Black 1999). P. yorkensis (syn. Cundokoala yorkensis; Black and Archer 1997) is known from the Early Pliocene Curramulka Local Fauna, South Australia (SA), and the Late Pleistocene Wellington Caves Local Fauna, New South Wales (Archer et al. 1997; Pledge 1992). P. stirtoni occurs in the Late Pleistocene Cement Mills Local Fauna, Queensland, and is known only from a partial maxilla containing P3-M2 (Bartholomai 1968, 1977). Phascolarctos material from the mid- Pleistocene Victoria Fossil Cave and Spring Cave, Naracoorte, SA, have also been referred to P. cf. stirtoni but remain undescribed (Reed and Bourne 2000; Moriarty et al. 2000). P. maris is known from a single lower molar from the Early Pliocene Sunlands Local Fauna, SA (Pledge 1987). Black (1999) cast doubt on its validity, suggesting its features may fall within the intraspecific variation of P. stirtoni. If P. maris is referable to P. stirtoni it is another South Australian instance of this species, and extends its range back to the Early Pliocene. The new phascolarctid material documented here is from the early Pleistocene Nelson Bay Local Fauna, Portland, Victoria (141o 35’ E; 38o 36’ S). It is therefore an important additional southern occurrence of a species larger than the living P. cinereus, and is the only pre- Late Pleistocene record of the Phascolarctidae in Victoria.
10 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |