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Acrobatidae
Temporal range: Late Oligocene - recent[1]
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Acrobates
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Infraclass:
Marsupialia
Order:
Diprotodontia
Suborder:
Phalangeriformes
Superfamily:
Petauroidea
Family:
Acrobatidae Aplin, 1987
Genera
Acrobates Distoechurus
The Acrobatidae are a small family of gliding marsupials containing two genera, each with a single species, the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) from Australia and feather-tailed possum (Distoechurus pennatus) from New Guinea.
This family of the order Diprotodontia, which can be found in the east coast and inland of Australia and in some islands of New Guinea, is characterized by their very small size, which has side effects: because their mass-to-surface-area ratio is so small, heat escapes quicker from their bodies than it would in larger animals (the larger the mass-to-surface-area ratio, the harder it is to get rid of heat). Therefore, when temperature drops or food is scarce, they have trouble maintaining their body temperature and they enter a state known as torpidity (not to be confused with hibernation, which is not known in marsupials) which can last between one day and two weeks. In this state, the animal's breathing slows down, its temperature drops to almost that of its surroundings, and the animal becomes unresponsive.
The earliest fossils of this family are teeth from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, assigned to both extant genera (Acrobates and Distoechurus). These fossils suggest that both genera have rather early origins, that Acrobates originally inhabited closed forest environments before transitioning to open forests, and that Distocheurus originally inhabited Australia before dispersing to New Guinea and eventually going extinct in Australia.[1]
^ abFabian, Prudence R.; Archer, Michael; Hand, Suzanne J.; Beck, Robin M.D. (2023-08-27). "First known extinct feathertail possums (Acrobatidae, Marsupialia): palaeobiodiversity, phylogenetics, palaeoecology and palaeogeography". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 47 (4): 484–505. Bibcode:2023Alch...47..484F. doi:10.1080/03115518.2023.2242439. ISSN 0311-5518. S2CID 261264587.
The Acrobatidae are a small family of gliding marsupials containing two genera, each with a single species, the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus)...
Mammals are divided into two subclasses based on reproductive techniques: egg laying mammals (the monotremes), and live birth mammals. The second subclass...
superfamilies: Petauroidea, containing two species in two genera in the family Acrobatidae, eleven in three genera in the family Petauridae, eighteen in six genera...
potoroos, and rat-kangaroos. Phalangeriformes has 64 species in 6 families: Acrobatidae, Petauridae, Pseudocheiridae, Tarsipedidae, Burramyidae, and Phalangeridae...
possum) Genus Tarsipes Honey possum or noolbenger, T. rostratus Family Acrobatidae: (feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum) Genus Acrobates Feathertail...
glider) Family Pseudocheiridae: (ring-tailed possums and allies) Family Acrobatidae: (feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum) Suborder Macropodiformes...
and allies Family Potoridae: potoroos, rat kangaroos, bettongs Family Acrobatidae: feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum Family Hypsiprymnodontidae:...
have prehensile tails; however, the tails of some members such as the Acrobatidae have only limited prehensile capacity. Notably, all three marsupial glider...
This is a list of mammals of South Australia. It includes all mammals recorded in South Australia since European settlement, including some known only...
Tarsipedidae Genus Tarsipes Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) Family Acrobatidae Genus Acrobates Feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) Genus Distoechurus...
Phalangerida Infraorder Phalangeriformes – see list of phalangeriformes Family Acrobatidae: feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum Family Burramyidae: pygmy...
glider and squirrel glider) Family Tarsipedidae (honey possum) Family Acrobatidae (feathertail glider and feather-tailed possum) Family Hypsiprymnodontidae...
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