Family MACROPODIDAE
Compiler and date details
31 December 1998 - J.H. Calaby & B.J. Richardson (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia
Introduction
This family includes the kangaroos, wallabies, tree kangaroos, hare wallabies and many other Recent and fossil groups. For the past decade this family has been separated from the Potoroidae (Aplin and Archer, 1987), though recent molecular studies do not support such an arrangement (Kirsch et al. 1997). In Australia there are forty-three Recent species in the family. The second and third upper incisors lie alongside the central incisors and the lower incisors do not occlude directly against the upper incisors. Canines are absent or vestigial and the diastema is long. Two deciduous premolars are replaced by a single permanent premolar. The molars erupt in slow succession, moving forwards in the jaw, in some species eventually "falling off" the front of the molar tooth row. The stomach is sacculated and used for pregastric digestion.
Macropodids are all herbivorous, the more primitive are browsers and the rest grazers, though some also are partially fungivorous (Reddell et al. 1997). The group shows a range of adaptations to life on the grasslands including nitrogen recycling through the rumen-like stomach. Embryonic diapause occurs in most members of the family. One species, the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, is established as a laboratory animal and has been the subject of a wide range of physiological studies. Reviews of various aspects of the general biology of the family have been published and several are listed below.
General References
Aplin, K.P. & Archer, M. 1987. Recent advances in marsupial systematics with a new syncretic classification. pp. xv-lxxii in Archer, M. (ed.). Possums and Opossums: studies in evolution. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons with the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 2 vols lxxii 788 pp.
Baudinette, R.V. 1994. Locomotion in macropodoid marsupials: gaits, energetics and heat balance. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 103-124
Coulson, G. 1989. Repertoires of social behaviour in the Macropodoidea. pp. 457-473 in Grigg, G., Jarman, P. & Hume, I. (eds). Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. Sydney : Australian Mammal Society and Surrey Beatty 835 pp.
Croft, D.B. 1989. Social organization of the Macropodoidea. pp. 505-525 in Grigg, G., Jarman, P. & Hume, I. (eds). Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. Sydney : Australian Mammal Society and Surrey Beatty 835 pp.
Dawson, T.J. 1989. Diets of macropodoid marsupials: general patterns and environmental influences. pp. 129-142 in Grigg, G., Jarman, P. & Hume, I. (eds). Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. Sydney : Australian Mammal Society and Surrey Beatty 835 pp.
Flannery, T. 1982. Hindlimb structure and evolution in the kangaroos (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). pp. 507-524 in Rich, P.V. & Thompson, E.M. (eds). The fossil vertebrate record of Australasia. Clayton : Monash University Offset Printing Unit 759 pp.
Fox, B.J. 1989. Community ecology of macropodoids. pp. 89-104 in Grigg, G., Jarman, P. & Hume, I. (eds). Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. Sydney : Australian Mammal Society and Surrey Beatty 835 pp.
Hume, L.D., Jarman, P.J., Renfree, M.B. & Temple-Smith, P.D. 1989. Macropodidae. pp. 679-715 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.
Jarman, P.J. 1991. Social behaviour and organisation in the Macropodoidea. pp. 1-50 in Slater, P.J.B., Rosenblatt, J.S., Beer, C. & Milinski, M. (eds). Advances in the study of behaviour. San Diego : Academic Press Vol. 20.
Kirsch, J.A.W., Lapointe, F.J. & Foeste, A. 1995. Resolution of portions of the kangaroo phylogeny (Marsupialia : Macropodidae) using DNA hybridisation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society of London 55: 309-328
Kirsch, J.A.W., Lapointe, F-J. & Springer, M.S. 1997. DNA-hybridisation studies of marsupials and their implications for metatherian classification. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 211-280
Reddell, P., Spain, A.V. & Hopkins, M. 1997. Dispersal of spores of mycorrhizal fungi in scats of native mammals in tropical forests of northeastern Australia. Biotropica 29: 184-192
Short, J., Bradshaw, S.D., Giles, J., Prince, R.I.T. & Wilson, G. 1992. Reintroduction of macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodoidea) in Australia - a review. Biological Conservation 62: 189-204
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29-Oct-2010 | 29-Oct-2010 | MOVED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |