Numbat
Tasmanian Devil eating
Australian Quoll
Mammals

Predators with Pouches

Carnivorous marsupials are a diverse group of mammals predominantly found in Australia and New Guinea. Unlike their herbivorous and omnivorous counterparts, these marsupials are adapted to a diet primarily consisting of meat. This unique group includes well-known species such as the Tasmanian Devil, the Quoll, and the Numbat, as well as the now-extinct Thylacine.

Dasyuromorphia

Dasyuromorphia is an order that includes the majority of Australia’s carnivorous marsupials, such as quolls, dunnarts, the numbat, the Tasmanian devil, and the extinct thylacine. The name Dasyuromorphia, derived from Greek, means “hairy tail.” This order is distinct from other Australian marsupials like the omnivorous bandicoots (order Peramelemorphia) and the marsupial moles (order Notoryctemorphia), which are also carnivorous but belong to different orders due to significant anatomical and ecological differences.

Carnivorous Marsupial List

Common Species of Carnivorous Marsupials

The order Dasyuromorphia consists of two extant families, Dasyuridae and Myrmecobiidae. Additionally, Dasyuromorphia contains the family Thylacinidae, whose only living member, the thylacine, was made extinct in 1936. Many of these species are further subdivided into subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

Family Dasyuridae

Subfamily Dasyurinae

Genus Antechinus (Antechinuses)

  • Description: Small, shrew-like marsupials.
  • Species: Ten species.
  • Example: Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)
  • Identification: Brown fur, sharp teeth, and high activity during breeding season.

Genus Dasycercus (Mulgaras)

  • Description: Medium-sized carnivorous marsupials.
  • Species: Two species.
  • Example: Crest-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda)
  • Identification: Distinctive crest of hair on the tail, sandy color.

Genus Dasykaluta (Little Red Kaluta)

  • Description: Small, reddish marsupial.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Little Red Kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae)
  • Identification: Reddish fur, nocturnal behavior.

Genus Dasyuroides (Kowari)

  • Description: Small carnivorous marsupial.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei)
  • Identification: Sandy-gray fur, bushy tail.

Genus Dasyurus (Quolls)

  • Description: Medium to large carnivorous marsupials.
  • Species: Six species.
  • Example: Tiger Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
  • Identification: Reddish-brown fur with white spots.

Genus Murexia (Dasyures)

  • Description: Small to medium-sized marsupials.
  • Species: Five species.
  • Example: Broad-striped Dasyure (Murexia rothschildi)
  • Identification: Striped fur, agile climber.

Genus Myoictis (Three-striped Dasyures)

  • Description: Small marsupials with distinctive stripes.
  • Species: Four species.
  • Example: Woolley’s Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis leucura)
  • Identification: Three dark stripes on the back.

Genus Neophascogale (Speckled Dasyures)

  • Description: Small carnivorous marsupials.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Speckled Dasyure (Neophascogale lorentzii)
  • Identification: Speckled fur, nocturnal.

Genus Parantechinus (Dibbler)

  • Description: Small, rare marsupials.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis)
  • Identification: Brown fur with pale underparts, endangered.

Genus Phascogale (Phascogales)

  • Description: Arboreal, carnivorous marsupials.
  • Species: Three species.
  • Example: Red-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale calura)
  • Identification: Red tail, arboreal habitat.

Genus Phascolosorex (Marsupial Shrews)

  • Description: Small, shrew-like marsupials.
  • Species: Two species.
  • Example: Narrow-striped Marsupial Shrew (Phascolosorex dorsalis)
  • Identification: Narrow stripes on back.

Genus Pseudantechinus (False Antechinus)

  • Description: Small, carnivorous marsupials.
  • Species: Six species.
  • Example: Fat-tailed False Antechinus (Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis)
  • Identification: Fat tail, brown fur.

Genus Sarcophilus (Tasmanian Devil)

  • Description: The largest carnivorous marsupial.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
  • Identification: Black fur with white patches, stocky build.

Subfamily Sminthopsinae

Genus Antechinomys (Kultarr)

  • Description: Small, insectivorous marsupials.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger)
  • Identification: Long tail, pale fur.

Genus Ningaui (Ningaui)

  • Description: Tiny, nocturnal marsupials.
  • Species: Three species.
  • Example: Wongai Ningaui (Ningaui ridei)
  • Identification: Small size, nocturnal behavior.

Genus Planigale (Planigales)

  • Description: Very small marsupials.
  • Species: Five species.
  • Example: Common Planigale (Planigale maculata)
  • Identification: Tiny size, flat head.

Genus Sminthopsis (Dunnarts)

  • Description: Small to medium-sized marsupials.
  • Species: Eighteen species.
  • Example: Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata)
  • Identification: Fat tail, grayish fur.

Carnivorous Marsupial List – Myrmecobiidae

Family Myrmecobiidae

Genus Myrmecobius (Numbat)

  • Description: Diurnal, termite-eating marsupials.
  • Species: One species.
  • Example: Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
  • Identification: Striped back, long sticky tongue.

Family Thylacinidae

Genus Thylacinus (Thylacine)

  • Description: Large carnivorous marsupial.
  • Species: One species (extinct).
  • Example: Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
  • Identification: Dog-like appearance, striped back, extinct since 1936.

Understanding Carnivorous Marsupials

Characteristics of Carnivorous Marsupials

Carnivorous marsupials are a unique group of marsupials that primarily consume meat. These animals are part of the order Dasyuromorphia, which includes species like quolls, dunnarts, the numbat, the Tasmanian devil, and the extinct thylacine. Carnivorous marsupials are distinguished by several key characteristics:

  1. Diet: As their name suggests, these marsupials are primarily meat-eaters. Their diet consists of small mammals, birds, insects, and carrion. Some species, like the numbat, have specialized diets (termites, in the case of the numbat).
  2. Physical Adaptations: They possess sharp, pointed teeth and powerful jaws adapted for hunting and consuming prey. Their claws are often strong and curved, aiding in capturing and killing their food.
  3. Hunting Behavior: These marsupials exhibit various hunting techniques, from the stealthy ambush tactics of quolls to the scavenging habits of Tasmanian devils.
  4. Reproductive Traits: Like other marsupials, carnivorous marsupials give birth to relatively undeveloped young, which then continue to develop in the mother’s pouch. This pouch protects the young while they mature and become more independent.
  5. Diverse Habitats: Carnivorous marsupials inhabit a wide range of environments, including forests, grasslands, and arid regions. Each species is adapted to its specific habitat, allowing them to exploit different ecological niches.

Differences Between Marsupial and Placental Carnivores

Marsupial and placental carnivores differ significantly in their evolutionary backgrounds, reproductive strategies, and physiological traits. Here are some key differences:

Evolutionary Lineage

  • Marsupial carnivores, such as the Tasmanian devil and quolls, belong to the infraclass Marsupialia. This group evolved separately from placental mammals around 160 million years ago.
  • Placental carnivores, including animals like lions, wolves, and bears, belong to the infraclass Eutheria. They share a more recent common ancestor with other placental mammals.

Reproductive Strategies

  • Carnivorous marsupials give birth to relatively undeveloped young after a short gestation period. The newborns then crawl into the mother’s pouch, where they continue to develop and nurse until they are mature enough to survive outside.
  • Placental carnivores have a longer gestation period, during which the young develop inside the mother’s uterus. They are born at a more advanced stage of development, allowing them to be more independent shortly after birth.

Physiological Traits

  • Many carnivorous marsupials have specialized adaptations, such as strong forelimbs for digging or climbing, and keen senses for detecting prey. They also have a different dental formula compared to placental carnivores, with some species having more teeth adapted for slicing meat.
  • Placental carnivores often have more complex and efficient body systems, such as a highly developed placenta that provides nutrients to the developing fetus. They also tend to have a wider range of body sizes and ecological roles.

Geographical Distribution

  • Carnivorous marsupials are primarily found in Australia and New Guinea, with a few species in South America.
  • Placental carnivores are widespread across the globe, inhabiting every continent except Antarctica.

These differences highlight the unique evolutionary paths and adaptations that have allowed carnivorous marsupials to thrive in their specific environments.