Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Mageth · 07-31-2002, 09:01 AM

Indeed, it is an ancient, country cousin to our own opossum, it's self a remarkable animal in that it is the only marsupial to be found so far away from Australia.

To be correct, it's the only species of Metatherian mammals (marsupials) to be found in North America. There are @70 species of marsupials in Central and South America.

<a href="http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/chordata/mammalia/metatheria.html" target="_blank">Metatheria</a>

Mageth · 07-31-2002, 09:14 AM

BTW, I think the naturalworlds.org website I posted above is an outstanding website.

Beach_MU · 07-31-2002, 09:33 AM

Does anyone know where to find a picture of the complete skeletal remains that have been found? It's a really interesting find, but I'm curious what evidence the "pouch" theory of them rearing their young is based on, because as of yet I've not found a picture of such a feature, but rather most of the sites focus on the teeth and skull.

Mageth · 07-31-2002, 09:41 AM

The naturalworlds site has a section on the Victoria Fossil cave where many Thylacoleo fossils were found, and includes reconstructed skeletons.

Beach_MU · 07-31-2002, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mageth:
The naturalworlds site has a section on the Victoria Fossil cave where many Thylacoleo fossils were found, and includes reconstructed skeletons.

Thank you for directing my search but it still doesn't answer the question as to what evidence the pouch theory is based on. Do any of you know of any?

Yellow3 · 07-31-2002, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beach_MU:
Thank you for directing my search but it still doesn't answer the question as to what evidence the pouch theory is based on. Do any of you know of any?

What do you mean? I would assume that they think T. carnifex and its kin (a handful of known species in genera Thylacoleo, Prisicleo, and Wakaleo) have pouches because a) all marsupials have them, since that's one of the key features making them marsupials, and b) the presence of epipubic/marsupium bones on one or more fossils. Anyone who's ever seen the skeletonized remains of an opossum has probably seen these little bones that stick out the front to help support the mostly soft-tissue pouch. The only other animals known to have them are monotremes, which I imagine a paleontologist can distinguish from marsupials.

However, I don't know if they've actually found the bones themselves, since the few pictures I've seen of full skeletons are pretty lousy, and I wouldn't be able to tell if those two little prongs were sticking out the front of the pelvis even if they were there.

- Jen

[ July 31, 2002: Message edited by: Yellow3 ]

Starspun · 07-31-2002, 10:15 AM

Thanks all for the info and websites. I'll get busy.

Jayhawker Soule · 07-31-2002, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beach_MU:
Does anyone know where to find a picture of the complete skeletal remains that have been found? It's a really interesting find, but I'm curious what evidence the "pouch" theory of them rearing their young is based on, because as of yet I've not found a picture of such a feature, but rather most of the sites focus on the teeth and skull.

See, e.g., <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/30/1027926885416.html" target="_blank">Aussie Site</a>

Mageth · 07-31-2002, 10:46 AM

Thank you for directing my search but it still doesn't answer the question as to what evidence the pouch theory is based on. Do any of you know of any?

From the naturalworlds website:

Quote:

In 1966, a discovery of immense significance was made at Moree in New South Wales, where workers at a loam pit uncovered a nearly complete Thylacoleo skeleton which was missing only its hind feet and the tip of the tail. When the matrix was cleared away from the skeleton, it was found to contain the fragmentary remains of a pouch young (Finch, 1971).

Coragyps · 07-31-2002, 12:47 PM

I never get any real work done, all because of Infidels.....
This thread led me to find <a href="http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walker/toc.html" target="_blank">this swell site.</a> It even has the monito del monte, which has allegedly brought superstitious folks in Chile to burn their houses to avoid "bad luck".

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-31-2002, 09:01 AM	#11
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Indeed, it is an ancient, country cousin to our own opossum, it's self a remarkable animal in that it is the only marsupial to be found so far away from Australia. To be correct, it's the only species of Metatherian mammals (marsupials) to be found in North America. There are @70 species of marsupials in Central and South America. <a href="http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/chordata/mammalia/metatheria.html" target="_blank">Metatheria</a>

07-31-2002, 09:14 AM	#12
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	BTW, I think the naturalworlds.org website I posted above is an outstanding website.

07-31-2002, 09:33 AM	#13
Beach_MU Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 71	Does anyone know where to find a picture of the complete skeletal remains that have been found? It's a really interesting find, but I'm curious what evidence the "pouch" theory of them rearing their young is based on, because as of yet I've not found a picture of such a feature, but rather most of the sites focus on the teeth and skull.

07-31-2002, 09:41 AM	#14
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	The naturalworlds site has a section on the Victoria Fossil cave where many Thylacoleo fossils were found, and includes reconstructed skeletons.

07-31-2002, 10:15 AM	#17
Starspun Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 334	Thanks all for the info and websites. I'll get busy.

07-31-2002, 12:47 PM	#20
Coragyps Veteran Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Snyder,Texas,USA Posts: 4,411	I never get any real work done, all because of Infidels..... This thread led me to find <a href="http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walker/toc.html" target="_blank">this swell site.</a> It even has the monito del monte, which has allegedly brought superstitious folks in Chile to burn their houses to avoid "bad luck".

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.