The Peramelidæ, or bandicoots, are small insectivorous Marsupials, having something of the form of the kangaroos. They range over the whole of Australia and Tasmania, as well as the Papuan Islands. The genus _Perameles_ (8 sp.), has the range of the family, one species being found in New Guinea and the Aru Islands (Plate XI., vol. i. p. 440); _Peragalea_ (1 sp.), inhabits West Australia only; and _Choeropus_ (1 sp.), a beautiful little animal with something of the appearance of a mouse-deer, is found in both South, East, and West Australia. FAMILY 80.--MACROPODIDÆ. (10 Genera, 56 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. __________________________________/\__________________________________ / \ NEOTROPICAL| NEARCTIC |PALÆARCTIC | ETHIOPIAN | ORIENTAL | AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS|SUB-REGIONS|SUB-REGIONS|SUB-REGIONS|SUB-REGIONS|SUB-REGIONS. -----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------ | | | | | -- -- -- --|-- -- -- --|-- -- -- --|-- -- -- --|-- -- -- --|1. 2 -- -- | | | | | {251}The well-known Kangaroos are the most largely developed family of Marsupials, and they appear to be the form best adapted for the present conditions of life in Australia, over every part of which they range. One genus of true terrestrial kangaroos (_Dorcopsis_), inhabits the Papuan Islands, as do also the curious tree kangaroos (_Dendrolagus_) which, without much apparent modification of form, are able to climb trees and feed upon the foliage. The genera, as established by Mr. Waterhouse, are as follows: _Macropus_ (4 sp.), West, South, and East Australia, and Tasmania (Plate XII., vol. i. p. 441); _Osphranter_ (5 sp.), all Australia; _Halmaturus_ (18 sp.), all Australia and Tasmania; _Petrogale_ (7 sp.), all Australia; _Dendrolagus_ (2 sp.), New Guinea (Plate X., vol. i. p. 414); _Dorcopsis_ (2 sp.) Aru and Mysol Islands, and New Guinea; _Onychogalea_ (3 sp.), Central Australia; _Lagorchestes_ (5 sp.), North, West, and South Australia; _Bettongia_ (6 sp.), West, South, and East, Australia, and Tasmania; _Hypsiprymnus_ (4 sp.), West and East Australia, and Tasmania. _Extinct Macropodidæ._--Many species of the genera _Macropus_ and _Hypsiprymnus_ have been found in the cave-deposits and other Post-Tertiary strata of Australia. Among the extinct genera are _Protemnodon_ and _Sthenurus_, which are more allied to the tree-kangaroos of New Guinea than to living Australian species; the gigantic _Diprotodon_, a kangaroo nearly as large as an elephant; and _Nototherium_, of smaller size. FAMILY 81.--PHALANGISTIDÆ. (8 Genera, 27 Species.)