Pathfinder Wiki - User contributions [en]

AY Honors/Marsupials/Answer Key

2005-12-15T11:32:54Z

81.71.114.91: /* Taxonomy */ nl

{{Taxobox begin | color = pink | name = Quolls}}<br/>{{StatusVulnerable}}
{{Taxobox image | image = [[Image:Tüpfelbeutelmarder brehm.png|200px]] | caption = Dasyurus}}
{{Taxobox begin placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox phylum entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox classis entry | taxon = [[Mammal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox subclassis entry | taxon = [[Marsupialia]]}}
{{Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = [[Dasyuromorphia]]}}
{{Taxobox familia entry | taxon = [[Dasyuridae]]}}
{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = '''''Dasyurus'''''}}<br/>{{Taxobox authority | author = [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|É. Geoffroy]] | date = 1796}}
{{Taxobox end placement}}
{{Taxobox section subdivision | color = pink | plural_taxon = Species}}
See text.
{{Taxobox end}}
'''Quolls''' (genus ''Dasyurus'') are [[carnivorous]] [[marsupial]]s, native to [[Australia]] and [[Papua New Guinea]]. Adults are between 25 and 75 [[Centimeter|cm]] long, with hairy tails about 20-35 cm long. Females have six to eight nipples and develop a pouch—which opens towards the tail—only during the breeding season, when they are rearing young. Quolls live both in forests and in open valley land. Though primarily ground-dwelling, they have developed secondary arboreal characteristics. Their molars and canines are strongly developed.

== Taxonomy ==

Within the genus ''Dasyurus'', the following species exist:
*''[[Dasyurus albopunctatus]]'' — New Guinean Quoll, New Guinea
*''[[Dasyurus geoffroii]]'' — Chuditch or Western Quoll, western Australia
*''[[Northern quoll|Dasyurus hallucatus]]'' — Northern Quoll, northern Australia
*''[[Dasyurus maculatus]]'' — Spotted Quoll (Tiger Quoll), eastern Australia
*''[[Dasyurus spartacus]]'' — Bronze Quoll, New Guinea
*''[[Dasyurus viverrinus]]'' — Eastern Quoll, [[Tasmania]]

{{Australia-stub}}
{{mammal-stub}}
{{mea-stub}}

[[Category:Dasyuromorphs]]

[[de:Beutelmarder]]
[[es:Quoll oriental]]
[[nl:Buidelmarters]]
[[ru:Сумчатая куница]]

AY Honors/Marsupials/Answer Key

2005-12-13T22:30:12Z

81.71.114.91: nl

{{Taxobox begin | color = pink | name = Quokka}}
{{Taxobox image | image = [[image:Quokka-257.jpg]] | caption = }}
{{Taxobox begin placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox phylum entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox classis entry | taxon = [[Mammal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox subclassis entry | taxon = [[Marsupialia]]}}
{{Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = [[Diprotodontia]]}}
{{Taxobox familia entry | taxon = [[Macropodidae]]}}
{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = ''[[Setonix]]''}}
{{Taxobox species entry | taxon = '''''S. brachyurus'''''}}
{{Taxobox end placement}}
{{Taxobox section binomial | color = pink | binomial_name = Setonix brachyurus | author = Quoy & Gaimard | date = 1830}}
{{Taxobox end}}
The '''Quokka''' (''Setonix brachyurus'') is a small [[macropod]], about the size of a large domestic cat. Like other [[marsupial]]s in the macropod family (such as the [[kangaroo]]s and [[wallabies]]) the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.

In the wild, it is now restricted to a very small range in mainland south-western [[Western Australia]], where it has become rare, and on two [[fox]]-free islands off the coast: [[Bald Island]] and [[Rottnest Island]] — which is its stronghold. On Rottnest it is common and occupies a wide range of habitats, ranging from semi-arid scrub to cultivated gardens.

Quokkas are the only member of the genus ''Setonix''. They are 40 to 54 [[centimeter|cm]] long with a 25 to 30 cm tail — which is rather short for a macropod. They have a stocky build, rounded ears, and a short, broad head. Although looking rather like a very small, dumpy kangaroo, they can climb small trees and shrubs. Their coarse fur is a grizzled brown colour, fading to buff underneath.

Quokkas are gregarious and gather in large groups where food is available: primary items are [[Poaceae|grasses]], [[Cyperaceae|sedges]], [[Succulent plant|succulents]] and foliage. They breed at any time on the mainland, but in late summer on Rottnest. Restricted availability of the [[Micromineral|trace element]] [[copper]] appears to be a major limiting factor of the ability of Quokkas to breed on Rottnest.

Although numerous on the small offshore islands, they have a very restricted range and are classified as vulnerable. On the mainland, where they must contend with introduced foxes, they require dense ground cover for refuge.

[[image:Quokka-517.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Quokka]]

[[Category:Macropods]]
[[Category:Australian animals]]

[[de:Quokka]]
[[eo:Kvokao]]
[[fr:Quokka]]
[[ja:クアッカワラビー属]]
[[nl:Quokka]]

AY Honors/Cats - Advanced/Answer Key

2005-11-28T18:19:19Z

81.71.114.91: nl

{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Geoffroy's Cat}}

{{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_phylum_entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[mammal|Mammalia]]}}
{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Carnivora]]}}
{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = [[Felidae]]}}
{{Taxobox_genus_entry | taxon = '''''[[Oncifelis]]'''''}}
{{Taxobox_species_entry | taxon = '''''O. geoffroyi'''''}}
{{Taxobox_end_placement}}
{{Taxobox_section_binomial_parens | color = pink | binomial_name = Oncifelis geoffroyi | author = [[d'Orbigny]] & [[Gervais]] | date = [[1844]] }}
{{Taxobox_end}}

The '''Geoffroy's cat''' is probably the most common wild cat in [[South America]]. It is about the size of a [[domestic cat]]. Their fur has black spots, but the background color varies from region to region; in the north, a brownish yellow coat is most common. Farther south, their coats are grayish. The Geoffroy's cat primarily preys on rodents, small lizards, insects, and occasionally frogs and fish. Although they appear to be plentiful, some conservationists are concerned because the Geoffroy's cat is hunted extensively for its pelt.

{{cat-stub}}

[[Category:Felines]]
[[Category:Argentine fauna]]

[[bg:Котка на Жофроа]]
[[de:Kleinfleckkatze]]
[[eo:Oncifeliso salmarĉa]]
[[nl:Geoffroykat]]
[[pl:kot argentyński]]

AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key

2005-06-19T14:49:06Z

81.71.114.91:

{{Taxobox begin | color = pink | name = Golden or Syrian Hamster}}
{{Taxobox image | image = [[image:hamster.jpg]] | caption =
}}
{{Taxobox begin placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox phylum entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox subphylum entry | taxon = [[Vertebrate|Vertebrata]]}}
{{Taxobox classis entry | taxon = [[Mammal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = [[Rodent]]ia}}
{{Taxobox subordo entry | taxon = [[Sciurognathi]]}}
{{Taxobox superfamilia entry | taxon = [[Muroidea]]}}
{{Taxobox familia entry | taxon = [[Cricetidae]]}}
{{Taxobox subfamilia entry | taxon = [[Cricetinae]]}}
{{Taxobox genus entry | taxon = ''[[Mesocricetus]]''}}
{{Taxobox species entry | taxon = '''''M. auratus'''''}}
{{Taxobox end placement}}
{{Taxobox section binomial | color = pink | binomial_name = Mesocricetus auratus | author = [[George Robert Waterhouse|Waterhouse]], | date = 1839}}
{{Taxobox end}}
The '''Syrian Hamster''' or '''Golden Hamster''', ''Mesocricetus auratus'', is the best known member of the [[rodent]] [[subfamily]] [[Cricetinae]], the [[hamster]]s. They may now be extinct in nature, but are popular as house pets all across the world, and are also used in scientific research. Adults grow from 5" to 7" in length, and in captivity will usually live from 2 to 3 years.

==Biology==
Like most members of the subfamily, the Golden Hamster has expandable cheek pouches, which reach from its cheeks to its shoulders. In the wild, hamsters are [[larder hoarding|larder hoarders]], and they use their cheek pouches to transport food to their burrows. They can load a remarkable amount of food into their pouches; their name in the local [[Arabic]] dialect in the area where they are found translates as "father of saddlebags" أبو جراب. If food is plentiful, they will store it in large amounts, and it has been reported that 25Kg of grain was found in the burrow of a single hamster.

Most hamsters in American and English pet stores are Syrian Hamsters. ''Teddy Bear'' is a term sometimes used for the longhaired variety of the Syrian Hamster, and the so-called ''Black Bear'' hamster is just a Syrian Hamster with black fur. All of them may well indeed be the descendants of a single mother.

Golden Hamsters have been used in scientific research, in the study of many diseases, and also in the study of behaviour. They have a number of [[fixed action pattern]]s that are readily observed, including scent-marking.

It is widely used in medical research, particularly in airway and respiratory physiology research.

== Discovery of the Syrian Hamster ==

In [[1839]] [[Britain|British]] [[zoologist]] [[George Robert Waterhouse]] reportedly found an elderly female hamster in Syria, naming it ''Cricetus auratus,'' the Golden Hamster. The hamster's fur was on display at the [[British Museum (Natural History)]]. The Syrian Hamster was then ignored by European science for the next century. Around 1930, zoologist and Professor at the University of Jerusalem [[Israel Aharoni]] found a mother and litter of hamsters in the [[Syria]]n desert. By the time he got back to his lab, most had died or escaped. The remaining hamsters were given to the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], where they were successfully bred. They were a bit bigger than the ones Waterhouse found, so they were named ''Mesocricetus auratus'', although they were probably the same species. ''Mesocricetus auratus'' is the currently accepted scientific name of Syrian Hamsters.

Descendants of these hamsters were shipped to scientific labs around the world, for use as research animals. They arrived in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1931, and in 1938 reached the United States. Just about all Golden Hamsters are descended from the original litter found in Syria, except for a few that were brought into the United States by travellers who found them in the desert. A separate stock of hamsters was imported into the US in 1971, but it isn't known if any of today's North American pets are descended from them.

''See also [[Hamster]] for a general discussion of hamsters and hamsters as pets.''

==External link==
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=10036&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock Genome information]

[[Category:Pets]]
[[Category:Muroid rodents]]

[[bg:Златист хамстер]]
[[de:Goldhamster]]
[[he:אוגר זהוב]]
[[fi:Kultahamsteri]]
[[nl:Goudhamster]]
[[pl:Chomik syryjski]]
[[sv:Guldhamster]]