1. James Duke, Katie Mayer, & Stephen Ulrich

2. Sinodelphys szalayi The oldest known ancestor to marsupials (125 million years old) The oldest known ancestor to placental mammals (125 million years old) Eomaia scansoria

4. Marsupial distribution in the late Cretaceous http://www.scotese.com/images/094.jpg

5. Current marsupial distribution

7. Marsupials Multiple reproductive organs Short internal gestation period followed by long development in marsupium Single reproductive organ Long gestation period Placenta Wider pelvic openings Placentals

8. Survival association with death during pregnancy Common birthing problems of placentals Amniotic membrane Advantages of shorter gestation period

9. Brain structure Sociality Developmental focus Other, minor differences http://brainmind.com/images/CorpusCallosum222.jpg

10. Australia Habitat destruction Introduction of predators by humans Worldwide Smaller average body size Other Stephen

11. Lessa, Enrique P. & Richard A. Farina. (1996). Reassessment of extinction patterns among the late Pleistocene mammals of South America. Palaeontology:Vol 39, part 3, 1996, pp 651-662. Retrieved from http://palaeontology.palass-pubs.org/pdf/Vol%2039/Pages%20651- 662.pdf. http://palaeontology.palass-pubs.org/pdf/Vol%2039/Pages%20651- 662.pdf Pickrell, John. (2003).Oldest Marsupial Fossil Found in China: National Geographic News. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1215_031215_oldestm arsupial.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1215_031215_oldestm arsupial.html Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Book Of Mammals, Sixth Edition. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 5. Springer, Mark S., John A.W. Kirsh, & Judd A. Case. The Chronicle of Marsupial Evolution: Molecular Evolution and Adaptive Radiation. Edited by Thomas J. Givnish & Kenneth J. Sytsma. 1997. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d06PgBvL5lIC&oi= fnd&pg=PA129&dq=marsupial+evolution&ots=rongh7ew3o&sig=7v NP_mvfqQhuef5HrtEtmuvSiF4#v=onepage&q=marsupial%20evolu tion&f=false. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d06PgBvL5lIC&oi= fnd&pg=PA129&dq=marsupial+evolution&ots=rongh7ew3o&sig=7v NP_mvfqQhuef5HrtEtmuvSiF4#v=onepage&q=marsupial%20evolu tion&f=false Tyndale-Biscoe, Hugh. (2005). Life of Marsupials. CSIRO publishing. Retrieved from http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/LOMsample.pdf.http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/LOMsample.pdf