Marsupial rat: species, description

Once marsupials lived on the whole planet. These animals from the Olympus displaced more primitive oviparous. After all, there used to be a land bridge between Australia and Asia, thanks to which animals and plants spread. As the level of the ocean and the movement of the continents changed, this jumper disappeared. Several million years have passed, once the prosperous detachment almost completely disappeared, and only on the lost continent, in Australia, marsupial life continues to flourish.

These isolated animals developed, and among them, predatory, herbivorous and insectivorous animals, jumping, climbing and running forms gradually emerged. They are found on plains and in forests, under the ground and in the mountains, there are semi-aquatic and planning forms. By inhabiting the continent and the islands nearest to it, they occupied almost all the ecological niches of their habitat, and basically they are not alike in appearance or size.

The marsupial genus of the rat is a kangaroo rat that inhabits Australia and New Guinea. It belongs to the mammalian mammalian family . In total, four species of these marsupial rodents are identified.

Bony-tailed rats

So, the first genus of these marsupial animals is large rats with bluish-gray hair and a tassel at the very tip of the tail. This marsupial rat got its name just due to this brush (bony-tailed rats). To this genus belong tafa (wood rat) - a predator that can not be tamed, as well as a small marsupial rat, which is a very rare animal that is under protection.

Great marsupial rat

Tafa or a large marsupial rat is a rodent the size of C carnivorous arboreal marsupial Dasyuridae. It is distinguished by a patch of silky black hair on its tail. Males of this species do not live long, their age reaches only one year, since after reproduction they die.

This animal is black. The tail is covered with black long hair in its lower part.

Habitat and distribution of animals

Tafa is widespread, its range is fragmented across Australia, excluding Tasmania. Due to a violation of habitual habitat conditions, as well as neighborhood with wild cats and common fox, there is an opinion that they disappeared from their former habitats. This species is very vulnerable and is prone to extinction.

Tafa is a wood hunter and leads a night life. It eats birds, small mammals, insects and lizards. Also can use nectar from flowers.

Reproduction

It comes in the period June-August. All males die after breeding, reaching one year. Mostly from diseases caused by the loss of energy spent on mating. Although in captivity, some males survived to 3 years old, they become unable to reproduce after the first year. Females nest in the hollows of trees.

Grebhnevostye rats

The comb-tailed marsupial rat is an animal with paws that do not have a large toe. It is a genus of marsupial mammals, in which the bag is practically absent. In genus 1 species, whose name is similar to the name of the whole genus. These animals are considered relatives of crested mice and with them have a great similarity.

The combed marsupial rat was discovered in Central Australia in the 19th century. This genus of marsupial rodents has not been studied well in recent years. The information obtained does not provide an opportunity to draw accurate conclusions about their environmental status and numbers.

Representatives of this genus lead a terrestrial life. They can be forced to climb the trees hunger or danger. These are very hardy animals that tolerate temperature changes, bad weather. Inhabited in semi-deserts and deserts, they can normally take in high doses of solar radiation, and also manage without water for a long time, extracting it from various plants. These little animals eat insects and small vertebrates.

Striped Rat

Striped marsupial rat is the third genus of marsupial animals. They live in a mountainous area in New Guinea. They differ reddish-brown tummy and long muzzle. These minke whales settle their nests on trees, as they are their main habitat

New Guinean rats

The fourth type of these rats is a small animal with a dark dense short coat, on the abdomen becoming lighter. It is called the New Guinean marsupial rat. Animal habitat - trees growing at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level. The length of the animal's body is 20 cm, the length of its tail. Their favorite treat is insects, but sometimes they can eat small vertebrates.

In addition, among the marsupials and opossums. This animal is also called the American marsupial rat.

American possums

This marsupial is small in size - the length of their body reaches 50 cm with a tail length of up to 55 cm. The ears are ungainly, medium sized or small. Muzzle pointed and elongated. In most cases, the tail is grabbing and long, bare partially or completely, sometimes in the base thickened with fat deposits. The American marsupial rat has five-toed, shortened limbs; The posterior ones are slightly longer than the forelegs. On the hindlimb, the thumb is large in size, devoid of a claw and contrasted with the other toes.

The marsupial rats look very cute, but they are predators that can harm both the pet and the adult.