xx. 4 (565) 



4. Carnivorous marsupials 



The Dasyuroidea include some nocturnal carnivorous polyproto- 

 donts that show remarkable convergence with placental carnivores, the 

 teeth being modified for cutting flesh in a way similar to the carnivore 



Fig. 343. Eastern native cat (Dasyurus). (From photographs.) 



Fig. 344. Banded ant-eater (Myrmecobius). 

 (From photographs.) 



Fig. 345. Marsupial mole 



(Notoryctes). 



(From photographs.) 



Fig. 346. Pouched mouse 



(Stninthopsis). 



(From photographs.) 



Fig. 347. Kangaroo (Macropus). 

 (From photographs.) 



carnassial. Thylacinus (Fig. 340), the Tasmanian wolf, is now nearly 

 or quite extinct. Sarcophilus, the Tasmanian devil (Fig. 341), is rare, 

 but (Dasyurus (native cat) (Figs. 342 and 343) includes several species 

 of cat-like creatures common in Australia and New Guinea. Successful 

 carnivorous marsupials formerly existed in South America. They 

 may perhaps be related to the Dasyuridae; *Borhyaena shows many 



