Fun Dasyuromorphia Facts For Kids

Dasyuromorphia is an order of animals that are made up of carnivorous marsupials that are native to the Australian, Tasmanian, and New Guinea regions. Currently, the Dasyuromorphia order is made up of three families which include the Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, and the Thylacinidae.The Dasyuridae family has the most species under it and is commonly found all across the Australian regions. Animals like the quoll, Kowari, Tasmanian devil, Phascogale, and Dunnart are some of the well-known species under the Dasyuridae family.Due to this vast species distribution, the members of this order are often termed as Near Threatened, Vulnerable, or Critically Endangered and are put under strict conservation efforts to keep their populations stable. Out of all these members, the Tasmanian tiger or wolf is the only species that could not be saved from extinction. These animals come in various sizes and shapes and are part of the beautiful Australian ecosystem.If you like these true facts about Dasyuromorphia, be sure to check out facts about Indian flying fox and ghost bat too!

What do they prey on? Small mammals and insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 10-12 joeys

How much do they weigh? 0.14 oz-65 lb (3.9 g-1842.7 g)

How long are they? 7.8-51.1 in (19.8-129.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, gray, golden

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Humans

What is their conservation status? Gray-bellied dunnart: Least Concern Tasmanian devil: Endangered Western quoll: Vulnerable

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Deserts, Forests, Mountains

Locations Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Dasyurus, Sarcophilus, Myrmecobius, Sminthopsis

Class Mammalia

Family Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, Thylacinidae

Dasyuromorphia Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a Dasyuromorphia?The order Dasyuromorphia is consists of many Australian carnivorous marsupial species that are commonly found in Tasmania, Australia, and New Guinea. Currently, the Dasyuromorphia order comprises 23 genera and 71 species that are further divided into three families of marsupials, namely Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, and the Thylacinidae. Out of these three families, the Dasryuridae includes a vast species of marsupials under the name. Whereas, the Myrmecobiidae and Thylacinidae consist of one species each. Myrmecobiidae is the family of numbats and Thylacinidae is the family of the now-extinct Tasmanian wolf.What class of animal does a Dasyuromorphia belong to?Dasyuromorphia belong to the mammal class of animals.How many Dasyuromorphias are there in the world?An exact population count of the Dasyuromorphia is tough to give as this order, especially the Dasryuidae family, consists of at least 69 species which include marsupial mice, quolls (they are called native cats) to name a few, hence making it tough to put a number on their population. However, the monotypic nature of the numbat and Tasmanian wolf under the Dasyuromorphia order makes it easier to keep a count. Out of these two species, the numbat is numbered at 800 mature individuals, whereas the Tasmanian wolf is extinct.Where does a Dasyuromorphia live?The list of species in the Dasyuromorphia order are spread throughout Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania, with some taking shelter in nearby island chains. These carnivorous marsupial species prefer a temperate and tropical climate and will thrive in these conditions if they are undisturbed by human interference.What is a Dasyuromorphia’s habitat?These carnivorous marsupials have a vast habitat range all over their native range of Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and nearby island chains. They are found in rainforests, savannas, marshlands, deserts, and swamps and have adapted to climate change in these regions.Many marsupials including the Antechinus are arboreal animals and live in trees. Whereas a vast majority of the species under the Dasyuromorphia class are terrestrial animals. The spotted-tailed quolls are an excellent example of arboreal marsupials as they are amazing climbers and kill possums in their tree dens.They often live in extreme temperatures and most of these carnivorous marsupials lick or lie flat down on the substrate to keep cool. The Tasmanian devil and Antechinuses adapt to winters by increasing the thickness of their fur and other species use trees, underground burrows, caves, and grass as living habitats.The species richness of the Dasyuromorphia order helps them in thriving in extreme conditions.Who does Dasyuromorphia live with?Most of the carnivorous marsupials under the Dasyuromorphia order are solitary in nature and prefer to live alone. They do, however, come together during the mating season as there is fierce competition among these animals to reproduce.These Dasyuromorphia characteristics make these species extremely hard to approach in the wild, as many some of the carnivorous marsupials will often see humans as a threat and in turn, become aggressive towards humans.How long does a Dasyuromorphia live?Due to the various carnivorous marsupials found under the Dasyuromorphia order, their lifespan depends on which species the animals belong to. For example, in the Myrmecobius family, the numbat has an average lifespan of five to six years in captivity, with the females living longer than the males. The now extinct Tasmania wolf from the Thylacinidae family lived up to 12 years in captivity.The members of the dasyurids live a generally shorter life. The species under the genera Antechinus and Sminthopsis have an average lifespan of one to two years because of their early reproduction. Species like the Tasmanian devil live a comparatively longer life and have an average lifespan of eight years in the wild because they spend a large chunk of their life growing and foraging before they reproduce.How do they reproduce?Dasyuromorphia have a complex reproductive process as they are both semelparous (breed once in a lifetime) and iteroparous (breed multiple times) in nature.Both the male and female members of these carnivorous marsupials have an unrestricted mating season. In most cases, the larger males are more dominant during the season as females choose stronger males to mate with. These stronger males will often chase away other competing males. The mating process is rather dangerous as males will chase the female and grip their necks during copulation which lasts for several hours.After successful mating, the male will guard the female for 10-12 hours to thwart off other males from mating with the female they just mated with, and in extreme cases, like in the Tasmanian devils, the male will guard the den and will not let the female leave it for food or water for days.To induce mating, females release pheromones to let nearby males know that she is in heat. They will often pay more attention to males that they think are worth mating with. In most cases, females can mate with multiple males, hence mixed paternity is common among the litters of these carnivorous marsupials. The females of the Dasyuridae family have a unique sexual function that allows them to store sperm from multiple mates and trigger ovulation to whichever sperm they find is best for them.The mating season for semelparous species occurs in winter with low natural resources and the gestation lasts till there is an abundance of resources. Semelparous species like the Northern quoll are known to die two to three weeks after mating with the female since they exert a high amount of energy during the mating process and as a result experience high stress which leads to death.Iteroparous marsupials can breed multiple times in their lifetime and hence do not need to exert such a high amount of energy during the mating process.After the mating season is over, males will leave the female who will take on all the parental responsibilities.Females carry their joeys in their pouches and once they are big enough, are carried into underground dens or burrows that are lined with vegetation and an ample amount of warmth with proper protection. Burrows, hollow logs, and caves are used as dens. After growing to a certain age, the males will leave their mother’s range whereas the females will stay in the home range.Mothers in the Dasyuromorphia order are biased and prefer to feed the male offspring more compared to the female as males have a higher chance of procreating and siring stronger offspring to keep the population of these animals intact.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of these animals varies based on the family and species they belong to. They are found on all spectrums of the IUCN Red List. Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) are Endangered, Dibblers (Parantechinus apicalis) are Vulnerable, the western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) is Near Threatened and the Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) is Extinct.Rapidly expanding human settlements in their native habitats have caused a steep decline in the population of these placental carnivores, triggering conservation efforts to protect some of the species that are thought to be in direct danger of being wiped off the Earth.Dasyuromorphia Fun FactsWhat does Dasyuromorphia look like?These animals move on four legs and have four toes at the front feet. Some are small in size like mouse and some resemble cats and dogs.A robust form with a massive skull and fierce teeth are found in scavengers like the Tasmanian devils. They have fleshy footpads that help them in moving slowly when they are hunting. Some members of the Dasyuridae family will store fat in their tails which is often shorter than the body, excluding animals like the numbat or long-tailed dunnart.How cute are they?These species have some element of cuteness to them thanks to their small size, besides that, they are not really that cute because of their rugged bodies and carnivorous nature.How do they communicate?These animals communicate with each other through visual, tactile, and chemical methods. Auditory methods are preferred when they are trying to thwart off trespassers or during self-defense.How big is a Dasyuromorphia?Dasryurmorphia comes in all shapes and sizes and this size varies depending on the species they belong to. These animals can range from anywhere between 7.8-51.1 in (19.8-129.7 cm)!How fast can a Dasyuromorphia run?The movement speed of each and every species is tough to state as the running speed for all the species is unaccounted for. Some are known, though, for example, the Tasmanian devil has an average running speed of 8 mph (12.8 kph), and quolls and numbats have an average running speed of 15 mph (24.1 kph) and 20 mph (32.1 kph) respectively.How much does a Dasyuromorphia weigh?Dasyuromorphia comes in a vast range of weight due to the various species that are found under the order. These animals can have a body mass that ranges between 0.14 oz-65 lb (3.9 g-1842.7 g).What are the male and female names of the species?These animals have no particular names assigned to their sexes.What would you call a baby Dasyuromorphia?A baby Dasyuromorphia is called a joey.What do they eat?These animals are carnivorous in nature and have a diet that consists mainly of small vertebrates and invertebrates. Smaller species feed on insects like moths and beetles, whereas, larger species are often seen feeding on young mice.Are they poisonous?No, these animals are not poisonous. They can, however, scratch or bite people if they feel threatened.Would they make a good pet?No, these animals are wild and should not be kept as pets. Since some of them are protected under strict conservation efforts, keeping them as pets might be a punishable offense. So if you are out on a hike or adventure and come across animals like the quolls, dunnarts, or numbats, it is advised to leave them as they are and not mess with them.Did you know…Tasmanian devils have a strong jaw that is capable of breaking human bones!Joeys are the size of a rice grain when they are born.Quolls are omnivorous and can consume both plant and meat.Dunnarts have a short lifespan that ranges between 15-18 months.Not all marsupials have pouches, for example, the short-tailed opossum.What does Dasyuromorphia mean?The word Dasyuromorphia can be directly translated into the Greek word for ‘hairy tail’ which is a characteristic of the various species found under the Dasyuromorphia order.What animals come under Dasyuromorphia?Animals like the quolls, dunnarts, Tasmanian devil, thylacine, and numbats come under the Dasyuromorphia order. The entirety of the order is made up of carnivorous marsupials that are members of the Animalia kingdom, phylum Chordata.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these hoary bat facts and Mexican free-tailed bat facts for kids.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable red bat coloring pages.Second image by JJ Harrison.

What type of animal is a Dasyuromorphia?

The order Dasyuromorphia is consists of many Australian carnivorous marsupial species that are commonly found in Tasmania, Australia, and New Guinea. Currently, the Dasyuromorphia order comprises 23 genera and 71 species that are further divided into three families of marsupials, namely Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, and the Thylacinidae. Out of these three families, the Dasryuridae includes a vast species of marsupials under the name. Whereas, the Myrmecobiidae and Thylacinidae consist of one species each. Myrmecobiidae is the family of numbats and Thylacinidae is the family of the now-extinct Tasmanian wolf.

Fun Dasyuromorphia Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Small mammals and insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 10-12 joeys

How much do they weigh? 0.14 oz-65 lb (3.9 g-1842.7 g)

How long are they? 7.8-51.1 in (19.8-129.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, gray, golden

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Humans

What is their conservation status? Gray-bellied dunnart: Least Concern Tasmanian devil: Endangered Western quoll: Vulnerable

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Deserts, Forests, Mountains

Locations Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Dasyurus, Sarcophilus, Myrmecobius, Sminthopsis

Class Mammalia

Family Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, Thylacinidae

Fun Dasyuromorphia Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Small mammals and insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 10-12 joeys

How much do they weigh? 0.14 oz-65 lb (3.9 g-1842.7 g)

How long are they? 7.8-51.1 in (19.8-129.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, gray, golden

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Humans

What is their conservation status? Gray-bellied dunnart: Least Concern Tasmanian devil: Endangered Western quoll: Vulnerable

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Deserts, Forests, Mountains

Locations Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Dasyurus, Sarcophilus, Myrmecobius, Sminthopsis

Class Mammalia

Family Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, Thylacinidae

Fun Dasyuromorphia Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Small mammals and insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 10-12 joeys

How much do they weigh? 0.14 oz-65 lb (3.9 g-1842.7 g)

How long are they? 7.8-51.1 in (19.8-129.7 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Black, gray, golden

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Larger Animals, Humans

What is their conservation status? Gray-bellied dunnart: Least Concern Tasmanian devil: Endangered Western quoll: Vulnerable

Where you’ll find them? Savannahs, Deserts, Forests, Mountains

Locations Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Dasyurus, Sarcophilus, Myrmecobius, Sminthopsis

Class Mammalia

Family Dasyuridae, Myrmecobiidae, Thylacinidae