126 COMPAEATIVE DENTAL. ANATOMY 



The Marsupialia is an extensive order which is 

 low in organization, although the dentition is 

 much varied and rather advanced. It includes all 

 the pouched mammals which carry their young 

 (born in a very immature condition) in the mar- 

 supial pouch upon the front of the abdomen for 

 the completion of the gestation period. It com- 

 prises the Kangaroos, Opossum, Bandicoots, etc., 



Fig. 41. — Teeth of Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). 



all of which are native to Australia and the adja- 

 cent islands, except the American Opossum. The 

 Marsupials represent a very primitive type of 

 mammalian life, and stop at a stage which other 

 mammals have long since passed. Teeth are 

 present in most of the Marsupials, but they are 

 usually monophyodont, as only one set is devel- 

 oped as a rule. Incisors are well developed, but 



