Dwarf glide pouches
| Dwarf glide pouches | ||||||||||||
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Feather-tailed glider ( Acrobates sp.) |
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| Acrobatidae | ||||||||||||
| Aplin , 1987 | ||||||||||||
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The Zwerggleitbeutler (Acrobatidae) are a family from the marsupial order Diprotodontia . The family includes three types into two genera, the spring tail Gleitbeutler ( Acrobates ) with the two types, Breitfuß spring tail Gleitbeutler ( Acrobates frontal ) and Schmalfuß spring tail Gleitbeutler ( Acrobates pygmaeus ) and the non-slidable feather-tailed possum ( Distoechurus pennatus ).
description
Only the feather-tail sliding pouch has a sliding membrane that is attached to the limb. The feather-tailed pouch lacks this, but its physique suggests that it developed from gliding ancestors. A special feature of both species is the almost feathery-looking tail with its long hair. Dwarf glide pouches are small, they reach a head body length of 6 to 12 cm and a weight of 15 to 50 g. The fur is soft, its color is gray-brown.
Distribution and way of life
The feather-tail gliders occur on the entire east coast of Australia , the feather-tail pouch lives in New Guinea . All three species are nocturnal tree dwellers. During the day they hide in all sorts of hiding places such as tree hollows or in self-made nests. At night they go looking for food with nimble, skilful movements. They live together in groups of up to 20 animals, but these groups have no structure and are not long-lived.
These animals feed on insects, worms, fruits and occasionally nectar, which they ingest with their long tongues.
Systematics
The affiliation of these animals has long been controversial. In the past, they were classified as climbing baggers or bilch baggers; only since the 1980s have they been run as a separate family. According to recent studies, they are most likely to be related to the trunk . The Gleitmembran is not a relationship feature, as lubricious marsupials in three families, the Gleitbeutlern , the ring marsupials find and specify the Zwerggleitbeutlern.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ken Aplin: Family Acrobatidae (Feather-tailed Gliders and Feather-tailed Possum). Page 590 a. 591 in Don E. Wilson , Russell A. Mittermeier : Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 5. Monotremes and Marsupials. Lynx Editions, 2015, ISBN 978-84-96553-99-6
