126 PHALANGEEIDJS. 



Family II. PHALANGERID^. 



Diprotodont Marsupials adapted for an arboreal, phytophagous 

 (rarely sarcophagous or insectivorous) life. , Progression scansorial, 

 sometimes assisted by parachute-like expansions of skin, giving the 

 power of making lengthened leaps through the air. Both fore and 

 hind feet with five digits, the anterior generally subequal. Hind 

 limbs syndactylous, fairly stout and well-developed ; fourth toe the 



Pig. 3. 



Hind foot, showing " syndafctyly." 



longest, but the fifth only slightly smaller ; hallux present, large, 

 widely opposable, with a broad nailless terminal pad. Tail (except 

 in Phascolarctince) very long and nearly invariably prehensile, some- 

 times very markedly so. Stomach simple. Csecum present (except 

 in Tarsipedince). Pouch well-developed, opening forwards. 



Skull (except in Tarsipes) broad and conical. Nasals expanded 

 behind. Palate generally incomplete. Bullae swollen, except in 

 some few of the larger forms. Masseteric fossa not hollowed out 

 below externally, and not communicating with the inferior dental 

 canal, except that in some genera there is a minute foramen corre- 

 sponding to the large opening found in the Maeropodidm. 



Dentition too variable for formulation as a whole, owing to the 

 presence in very unequal numbers of minute and rudimentary teeth, 

 not constant in the same genus, species, or even on the two sides of 

 the jaw in the same individual. Speaking only of the large and 

 obviously functional teeth, and excluding Tarsipedinw, the following 

 formula may be drawn up : — • 



•^- 1.0.0' ^-0' ^- 0.0.3(or0),4(or0)' ^- 1. 2 .3.4 (or 0) ^ ^ — ^" ™ ^"- 



Teeth *. Incisors long and strong, the lower pair very long and 

 pointed, but without the scissor-like action found in the Maeropodidce. 



* This desoription does not include the T^armpedince, in which the teeth are 

 nearly all minute and rudimentary. 



