. Elementary text-book of zoology. 502 CHORD AT A. characters, be recognised at once by the presence of more than three pairs of upper incisors. The canines are large and prominent and the molars are cusped. In other words, the Folyprotodontia have a typical carnivorous dentition, and all are flesh- or insect-eaters. They are aquatic, cursorial, fossorial, or arboreal. Family I.—Didelphidse comprise the Opossums, found in the warmer regions of America. They are usually "true arboreal" and hence have an opposable hallux or big toe, the other four toes being nearly equal and each beari
. Elementary text-book of zoology. 502 CHORD AT A. characters, be recognised at once by the presence of more than three pairs of upper incisors. The canines are large and prominent and the molars are cusped. In other words, the Folyprotodontia have a typical carnivorous dentition, and all are flesh- or insect-eaters. They are aquatic, cursorial, fossorial, or arboreal. Family I.—Didelphidse comprise the Opossums, found in the warmer regions of America. They are usually "true arboreal" and hence have an opposable hallux or big toe, the other four toes being nearly equal and each bearing a claw. The Yapock, however, is aquatic and has webbed feet. The opossums vary in size and colora- tion and there is a large number of species. Fig. 347.—Jaws and Teeth of the Opposum (Didelphys).. Note the five upper and four lower incisors, long canines, sharp cusped molars with four true molars {- \- An essentially carnivorotis dentition, \4i34/ Family II.—Dasyuridas comprise a number of carnivorous and insectivorous animals found in the Australian region. They vary in size from the Tasmanian wolf (Thylacinus) to the little mouse-like Phascogale. The Tasmanian "devil" (Sarcophilus) has the fossorial habits of the badger, and the Dasyures (Dasyuriis) are much like small civets. The Banded Anteater (Myrmecobius) has a great number of small teeth and it has no pouch. Family III.—Peramelidse comprise a number of small animals, the Bandicoots, found only in the Australian region. They are '' small- flesh " eaters (worms, insects and occasionally vegetable diet). They are interesting for two structural features, viz., the presence of an allantoic placenta and the syndactylic condition of the hind-foot (see Diprotodontia). The " Native Rabbit" (Peragale) is fossorial. Family IV.—Notoryctidae is made for the curious metatherian mole (Notoryctes), A true fossorial type found in tlie sandy districts of centra! Australia. Its structure is adapted f
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