Dasyuridae

Dasyuridae

[das·ē′yu̇r·ə‚dē]

(vertebrate zoology)

A family of mammals in the order Marsupialia characterized by five toes on each hindfoot.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Dasyuridae

 

a family of mammals of the order Marsupialia. Dasyurids include the smallest marsupials (pouched mice) and some of the large ones (Tasmanian pouched wolf, Tasmanian devil). The body length varies from 8 to 130 cm. Dasyurids are extremely diverse in appearance. The tails are not prehensile. The pouch opens to the rear. In some species the pouch is permanent, but in others it forms only during the reproductive period. The pouch is entirely absent in some dasyurids.

There are 13 genera, embracing about 50 species. The marsupials are distributed in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, as well as on neighboring islands. Generally terrestrial animals, they are found in various habitats. Their food is of animal origin. One litter, containing three to ten young, is produced in a year.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.