Physical World/Mammals - 1

	Duck-billed platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus Egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania The male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers venom capable of causing severe pain to humans
	Echidna family Tachyglossidae The four extant species, together with the platypus, are the only surviving members of the Monotremata order and are the only extant mammals that lay eggs Also known as spiny anteaters. Baby echidna is called a puggle
	Pademelon genus Thylogale Besides their smaller size, pademelons can be distinguished from wallabies by their shorter, thicker, and sparsely haired tails Usually found in forests
	Quokka Setonix brachyurus The quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal. Quokkas can be found on some smaller islands off the coast of Western Australia, in particular on Rottnest Island just off Perth. It is about the size of a domestic cat
	Potoroo genus Potorous A kangaroo-like marsupial about the size of a rabbit Gilbert's potoroo is Australia's most endangered animal
	Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana The only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico. In the United States, it is typically referred to simply as a possum. It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat.
	Bilby genus Macrotis Also known as rabbit-bandicoot An Australian desert-dwelling marsupial omnivore. Bilbies have a long muzzle and very long ears
	Bandicoot order Peramelemorphia Small to medium-sized, terrestrial marsupial omnivores. They are endemic to the Australia–New Guinea region. Name means "pig rat"
	Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii The size of a small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the thylacine in 1936 Now found in the wild only on Tasmania
	Wombat family Vombatidae There are three species of wombat – Common, Northern Hairy-nosed and Southern Hairy-nosed Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat was an unofficial mascot of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
	Koala Phascolarctos cinereus An arboreal herbivorous marsupial. Its closest living relatives are the wombats. Because their eucalypt diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep for up to 20 hours a day. Koala is one of the few mammals (other than primates) that have fingerprints. Name means “no drink"
	Quoll genus Dasyurus A carnivorous marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea. It has a brown coat with white spots. It is primarily nocturnal
	Elephant shrew family Macroscelididae Small insectivorous mammals native to Africa. Name name comes from a fancied resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and an assumed relationship with the shrews Also known as sengis
	Tenrec family Tenrecidae Tenrecs are widely diverse; as a result of convergent evolution they resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, mice and even otters Found on Madagascar and in parts of the African mainland
	Golden mole family Chrysochloridae Insectivorous burrowing mammals native to southern Africa. The golden moles bear a resemblance to the marsupial moles of Australia
	Aardvark Orycteropus afer Feeds almost exclusively on ants and termites. The name comes from earlier Afrikaans and means ‘earth pig’. Aardvark is sometimes colloquially called antbear, anteater, or the Cape anteater
	Hyrax order Hyracoidea They are often mistaken for rodents, but are more closely related to elephants and manatees. Four species are recognised; the rock hyrax (pictured), the yellow-spotted rock hyrax, the western tree hyrax and the southern tree hyrax
	Borneo elephant Elephas maximus Also known as the Borneo pygmy elephant The Sultan of Sulu introduced captive elephants to Borneo in the 18th century, which were released into the jungle
	Armadillo family Dasypodidae Some species distinguished by the number of bands on their armour. The giant armadillo grows up to 150 cm, while the pink fairy armadillo has an overall length of up to 15 cm. All species are native to the Americas. Some species roll up into a ball when threatened. The North American nine-banded armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when surprised
	Giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla Also known as the ant bear Native to Central and South America. All anteaters have elongated snouts equipped with a thin tongue that can be extended to a length greater than the length of the head; their tube-shaped mouths have lips but no teeth
	Pika family Ochotonidae Within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares) It is also known as the "whistling hare" due to its high-pitched alarm call when diving into its burrow
	Groundhog Marmota monax Also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or land-beaver in some areas It is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2
	Prairie dog genus Cynomys They are a type of ground squirrel. Burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's bark
	Gopher family Geomyidae Also known as pocket gophers Gophers live in Central and North America. They are commonly known for their extensive tunneling activities
	Kangaroo rat genus Dipodomys The common name derives from their bipedal form. They hop in a manner similar to the much larger kangaroo, although they are not related. Native to North America
	Baluchistan pygmy jerboa Salpingotulus michaelis Also known as the dwarf three-toed jerboa Smallest rodent in the world. Adults average only 4.4 cm (1.7 in) in head and body length
	Norway lemming Lemmus lemmus The Norway lemming has a dramatic three- to four-year population cycle, in which the species' population periodically rises to unsustainable levels, leading to high mortality, which causes the population to crash again Lemmings do not commit mass suicide when they migrate
	Mara genus Dolichotis A genus of the cavy family. These large relatives of guinea pigs are common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina
	Capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris The largest living rodent in the world (ahead of the beaver and porcupine). Found wild in much of South America Very popular with quiz setters. The Billy Fury of Rodentia
	Paca genus Cuniculus Ground-dwelling, herbivorous rodents found in South and Central America. They are large rodents with dots and stripes on their sides, short ears, and barely visible tails. Similar to guinea pigs
	Degu Octodon degus Small rodent endemic to Chile. It is sometimes referred to as the brush-tailed rat Degus have an intolerance to dietary sugar and are used in diabetes research
	Common agouti genus Dasyprocta Native to the Americas. They are related to guinea pigs and look quite similar, but are larger and have longer legs
	Colugo family Cynocephalidae Arboreal gliding mammals found in Southeast Asia. They are also known as cobegos or flying lemurs, though they are not true lemurs. Of all the gliding mammals, the colugos have the most extensive adaptation to flight. Their gliding membrane, or patagium, is as large as is geometrically possible
	Slow loris genus Nycticebus Only venomous primate. The toxin is produced by licking a gland on their arm, and the secretion mixes with its saliva to activate it The group's closest relatives are the arboreal slender lorises
	Galago family Galagidae Also known as the bushbaby Galagos have large eyes that give them good night vision, strong hind limbs, acute hearing, and long tails that help them balance. Their ears are batlike and allow them to track insects in the dark
	Potto Perodicticus potto In the same family as the lorises The potto inhabits the canopy of rain forests in tropical Africa. It is nocturnal and arboreal
	Ring-tailed lemur Lemur catta The most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar and female dominant
	Aye-aye Daubentonia madagascariensis A lemur native to Madagascar and the world’s largest nocturnal primate Aye-ayes tap on the trunks and branches of the trees, and listen to the echo produced to find hollow chambers inside. Once a chamber is found, they chew a hole into the wood and get grubs out of that hole with their narrow and bony middle finger
	Tarsier genus Tarsius Tarsiers are small animals with enormous eyes; each eyeball is approximately 16 mm in diameter and is as large as its entire brain Restricted to several Southeast Asian islands