Carnivorous nocturnal arboreal Phascogale enters the LRT as a basal marsupial
Wambengers aka mousesacks
(genus Phascogale = ‘pouched weasel’, type Didelphis pincillata Shaw 1800, originally Vivera tapoatafa Meyer 1793, Fig 1) are traditional dasyurid Australian marsupials.
In the LRT Phascogale does not nest with other dasyurids.
Phascogale
Pronounced: ‘fas-COG-o-lee’ or ‘FASS-co-gall’ or ‘FAS-co-gail’ is now the basal-most extant marsupial in the LRT.
In other words, according to the LRT this (Fig 1) is what our ancestors looked like and acted like soon after they stopped laying eggs in the Late Triassic.
Figure 1. Phascogale in vivo.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89765″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Phascogale in vivo. ” width=”584″ height=”356″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=584&h=356 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=150&h=91 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=300&h=183 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Phascogale in vivo. This is the basal most marsupial that is still extant some 200 million years later.
Ironically Phascogale lacks a pouch,
as in the traditional genus Monodelphis, represented in the LRT by three species. Interestingly, none of these four taxa are related to one another. They don’t nest together in a pouch-less clade apart from other marsupials . Pouches disappeared by convergence.
Even so, marsupial bones are present (Fig 2).
Figure 2. Skeleton of Phascogale, full scale on 72 dpi monitors.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89772″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Skeleton of Phascogale, full scale on 72 dpi monitors.” width=”584″ height=”504″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg?w=584&h=504 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg?w=150&h=129 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg?w=300&h=259 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skeleton588-1.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Skeleton of Phascogale, full scale on 72 dpi monitors.
Here
in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2327 taxa) nocturnal and arboreal Phascogale tapoatafa (16–27 cm svl) nests at the base of the marsupial clade that produced Early Cretaceous Eomaia (Fig 3) and Early Jurassic multituberculates, along with extant rodents, kangaroos and marsupial moles. Late Cretaceous Asiatherium is a proximal ancestor close to the Late Triassic origin of the marsupial clade.
Figure 3. Phascogale skeleton enlarged and shown at full scale @ 72dpi.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg?w=216″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89769″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Phascogale skeleton enlarged and shown at full scale @ 72dpi.” width=”584″ height=”812″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg?w=584&h=812 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg?w=108&h=150 108w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg?w=216&h=300 216w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale.skull588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Phascogale skeleton enlarged and shown at full scale @ 72dpi.
So this is a very long-lived arboreal taxon,
going back some 200 million years, despite its self-limited ability to reproduce:
Males die soon after mating during their first year of life.
Females generally produce only one litter of six pups during three years of life.
Currently
Phascogale is in sharp decline, close to extinction – after 200 million years!
References
Meyer FAA 1793. Systematisch-summarische Uebersicht der neuesten zoologischen Entdeckungen in Neuholland und Afrika. Leipzig, Dykischen: 1–178 + 6 unnum. index.
Shaw G 1800. Descriptions of the Mus Bursarius and Tubularia Magnifica; from drawings communicated by Major-General Thomas Davies – Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 5: 227-229, Tab. 8-9. London.
Temminck CJ 1824. Monogr. Mamm. vol.1 p.23, 56.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/11/15/carnivorous-nocturnal-arboreal-phascogale-enters-the-lrt-as-a-basal-marsupial/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Online: | |
| Visits: | 1,654,393,617 |
| Stories: | 8,287,122 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
