Acrobatidae

From Freepedia

? Acrobatidae
Image:Acrobates pygmaeus.JPG Acrobates pygmaeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Suborder: Phalangerida Family: Acrobatidae Aplin, 1987
Genera
Acrobates Distoechurus

Acrobatidae is a small family of marsupials containing two genera, each with a single species, the Feathertail Glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) from Australia and Feathertail Possum (Distoechurus pennatus) from New Guinea.

This family of the Diprotodontia order, which can be found in the east coast and inland of Australia and in some islands of New Guinea, is characterized by their very small size, which has side effects: because their surface area is so small, heat escapes quicker from their bodies than it would in larger animals (the larger the surface area, the harder it is to get rid of heat). Therefore, when temperature drops or food is scarce, they have trouble mantaining their body temperature and they enter a state known as torpidity (not to be confused with hibernation, which is not known in marsupials) which can last for between one day and two weeks. In this state, the animal's breathing slows down, its temperature drops to almost that of its surroundings, and the animal becomes unresponsive.

Taxonomy

• ORDER DIPROTODONTIA
• SUBORDER PHALANGERIDA
  • Family Acrobatidae
    • Genus Acrobates
      • Acrobates pygmaeus, Feathertail Glider
    • Genus Distoechurus,
      • Distoechurus pennatus, Feathertail Possum