Pseudocheiridae

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Pseudocheiridae
Late Oligocene to Recent[1]
Pseudocheirus peregrinus, common ringtail possum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Superfamily: Petauroidea
Family: Pseudocheiridae
Winge, 1893
Type genus
Pseudocheirus
Ogilby, 1837
Subfamilies
  • Hemibelideinae
  • Pseudocheirinae
  • Pseudochiropsinae

Pseudocheiridae is a family of

arboreal marsupials containing 17 extant species of ringtailed possums and close relatives. They are found in forested areas and shrublands throughout Australia and New Guinea
.

Characteristics

Physically, they appear very similar to the

nocturnal, with large eyes.[3]

All species feed almost entirely on leaves. To enable them to digest this tough and fibrous food, they have an enlarged

canines
. Their dental formula is:

Dentition
3.1.3.4
2.0.3.4

Most are solitary animals, although a few live in small family groups, and they are generally shy and secretive, making them difficult to study. They travel across home ranges of up to 3 hectares (7.5 acres).[3] Gestation lasts up to 50 days, but varies depending on species.

Classification

The listing for extant species is based on The Third edition of Wilson & Reeder's Mammal Species of the World (2005), except where the Mammal Diversity Database and IUCN agree on a change. The 18 living species of pseudocheirid possum are grouped into three subfamilies and six genera.

References