Metatherian Mammals Case Study

Student Name: SCIN 401 Mammalogy

Case Study Assignment Week 2: Functional Ecology of Metatherian (marsupial) Compared to Eutherian (placental) Mammals
Follow the directions for each activity. Answer the essay questions completely using thoughtful ideas, the course text, and outside reference sources, where applicable. Proofread answers for potential writing errors.
Part A. Metatherian Mammals
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Part A Question1) What are metatherian mammals? What are distinguishing characteristics of metatherian mammals?
Metatherian mammals are marsupials. Distinguishing characteristics of metatherian mammals are their pouches. They are the only mammals that haveabdominal pouches.

Part A Question2) Describe the biogeography of metatherian mammals.
The Metatherian mammals were placed and thrived in habitats and ecosystems in which they fit.
Part A Question3) Using the following websites choose one extant (currently living) metatherian (marsupial) mammal species. Conduct research about the species. Discuss and analyze the species’ anatomy, ecology, and life history. Write a species account of at least 300 words correctly citing the reference source(s) you used. Scientific names are comprised of the genus (capitalized) followed by the species name (not capitalized) and they are italicized. For example, Ornithorhynchus anatinus.
Site Name Web Site URL/Address
Mammalogy on the Internet http://www.mammalsociety.org/mammalogy-internet

Tree of Life Web Project http://www.tolweb.org/Mammalia

Animal Diversity Web http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mammalia.html

Wilson & Reeder’s Mammal Species of the World http://www.vertebrates.si.edu/msw/mswcfapp/msw/index.cfm

American Society of Mammalogists: Mammalian Species
http://www.mammalsociety.org/publications/mammalian-species

Mammalian Species pdf Site http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/

National Geographic Mammals http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/

Species Scientific Name:
Species Common Name:
Species Account:

Part B. Comparison of Metatherian and Eutherian Mammal Ecology
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Complete the table using the websites listed in Part B. Match the eutherian (placental) mammal with a similar ecological equivalent metatherian.
Scientific Name of Metatherian Mammal Common Name Ecological Description Eutherian Mammal Match
Petaurus breviceps
Vombatus ursinus
Myrmecobius fasciatus
Notoryctes typhlops
Dasycercus cristicauda
Sarcophilus harrisii
Thylacinus cynocephalus

List of Eutherian Mammals to Match
Peromyscus polionotus
Talpa europaea
Glaucomys volans
Taxidea taxus
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Canis latrans
Marmota flaviventris

Part B Essay Question: What are potential hypotheses (explanations) regarding why there are ecological equivalents between many metatherians and eutherians? Discuss your hypothesis in terms of the processes that could lead to the current ecologies and distributions of metatherians and eutherians.