Description

Platypus, Echidnas, Opossums, Kangaroos, Koalas, Wallabies, and Wombats – Monotremes and marsupials include a host of animals that have intrigued mammal fanciers for centuries. Monotremes are a very distinctive ancient group of mammals with only a handful of extant species in Australia and New Guinea and marsupials, with roots in South America, likely reached Australia via Antarctica some 50 million years ago. With relatives remaining in America, Marsupials have adapted to an amazing diversity of lifestyles and habitats. Volume 5 of HMW provides complete coverage of these two important groups of mammals. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs showing different behaviors of all of them, the text contains the latest up-to-date information on all families of Monotremes and Marsupials, both Australasian and American. Find out more about the contents of Volume 5 by reading the introduction.This volume also includes a Special Chapter on Extinct Marsupials, by Kristofer Helgen.Families covered in this volume are: Family Tachyglossidae (Echidnas). Family Ornithorhynchidae (Platypus). Family Didelphidae (Opossums). Family Caenolestidae (Shrew Opossums). Family Microbiotheriidae (Monito del Monte). Family Notoryctidae (Marsupial Moles). Family Myrmecobiidae (Numbat). Family Dasyuridae (Carnivorous Marsupials). Family Thylacomyidae (Bilby). Family Peramelidae (Bandicoots). Family Phascolarctidae (Koala). Family Vombatidae (Wombats). Family Burramyidae (Pygmy Possums). Family Phalangeridae (Cuscuses, Brush-tailed Possums and relatives). Family Pseudocheiridae (Ring-tailed Possums and Greater Gliders). Family Petauridae (Striped Possums, Leadbeater's Possum and Lesser Gliders). Family Tarsipedidae (Honey Possum). Family Acrobatidae (Feather-tailed Gliders and Feather-tailed Possum). Family Hypsiprymnodontidae (Musky Rat Kangaroo). Family Potoroidae (Bettongs and Potoroos). Family Macropodidae (Kangaroos and Wallabies).