Image: Marsupials

Description: Comparison of isolated tarsals of Djarthia murgonensis with an extant australidelphian marsupial and an extant non-australidelphian (‘ameridelphian’) marsupial. Astragali (A, C, E) and calcanea (B, D, F) of the ‘ameridelphian’ didelphid Thylamys elegans (A–B), Djarthia murgonensis (C–D) and the australidelphian microbiotheriid Dromiciops australis (E–F). Astragali illustrated in dorsal (top), distal (middle) and ventral (bottom) views. Calcanea illustrated in dorsal (top) and distal (bottom) views. Scale bar, 1 mm. AFi, astragalofibular facet (green); ampt, astragalar medial plantar tuberosity; CaCua, auxiliary calcaneocuboid facet (orange); CaCud, distal calcaneocuboid facet (orange); CaCul, lateral calcaneocuboid facet (yellow); CaCum, medial calcaneocuboid facet (blue); CLAJP, continuous lower ankle joint pattern (red); cpp, peroneal process of the calcaneus; Ec, ectal facet (red); Su, sustentacular facet (red). Presence of the continuous lower ankle joint pattern and subdivision of the calcaneocuboid facet into three distinct facets are australidelphian synapomorphies [5]. Specimens illustrated (UNSW Palaeontology Laboratory collection (a–b, e–f) and Queensland Museum palaeontology collection): A–B, unregistered specimen; C, QM F52750; D, QM F52747; E–F, unregistered specimen.
Title: Marsupials
Credit: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0001858;jsessionid=A57F0FDB595AC49992E2B5A390FA104C
Author: Robin M. D. Beck, Henk Godthelp, Vera Weisbecker, Michael Archer, Suzanne J. Hand
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
License: CC BY 2.5
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5
Attribution Required?: Yes