Family of the Week: The Dasyures

Today, the family Dasyuridae is a family of small, carnivorous marsupials. Most of them are mongoose-like in appearance. Some resemble small shrews or mice. During the Metazoic, this family has little time to change before the land is taken over by carnivorous kangaroos, which outcompete the dasyures for the title of top predator. A few species have been added, but the Metazoic only sees the emergence of one new dasyure genus, Spilotigris. This animal is the size of a bengal tiger and just as ferocious. In today's world, it could bring down a cow very easily. Metazoic dasyures are not too much different than they are today. They range in size from the tiny Antechinus to the Spilotigris. Antechinus and most other species resemble rats, with the lifestyle more akin to shrews. Dasyurus, Dasyuroides, Spilotigris and Myoictis resemble mongooses, and in some cases, even cats. The body is covered in soft fur, the ears are mostly small and triangular in shape. The eyes are large and round. The tail is well-haired in most species. In the smaller species, the tail is slightly haired and mouse-like. The feet are also like those of mongooses, with the exception of Spilotigris, whose claws are retractable. Spilotigris also has protruding canines, as did the sabre-toothed "cats" and the ancient Thylacosmilus. The tail is generally long, almost as long as the head and body. Most dasyures are ground-dwellers. Myoictis may be the exception though, as it has most often been seen in trees.

Dasyures are most active at night and during the Metazoic, that doesn't change at all. These animals prowl the night in search of prey. Sometimes they can be seen in daylight, but it's rare. Later on in the Metazoic, these animals will be replaced with a species of night-hunting caroroo. Dasyures are low to the ground mostly, with shortened legs, but they can move surprisingly fast. They have a great sense of smell, and usually use this method while hunting. Unlike the caroroo, which uses sight. Most small dasyures feed on anything they can capture, from insects to frogs to small lizards and even birds and eggs. Spilotigris is the largest species and is capable of eating anything. They will hunt down kangaroos, and even wild horses single-handedly. Dasyures are lone hunters usually, but sometimes will team up with other individuals in order to bring down prey they otherwise would not be able to overpower.

Unlike today, there are no scavenging species in this family. They too become out-competed by local foxes, soon to become the scavenging bear-fox (Cynovulpes). Larger dasyures have few natural enemies. The worst would be predatory bats, but smaller species may be preyed upon by snakes, larger dasyures, foxes, monitor lizards, raptors, bats, and felines. Small species tend to roost in burrows they dig in the ground. While most species are quadrupeds, today there is a bipedal species, that unfortunately does not make it to the Metazoic. Like all marsupials, Dasyures raise underdeveloped youngsters, but they have no pouch, like kangaroos. The young cling to a nipple under the mother's belly and are kept exposed. They must cling tight, so they do not fall off, because the mother will offer no help if it does. After they are weaned, the babies crawl onto the back of the mother and cling on with their claws. After the babies are completely weaned and off to be on their own, the females of the smaller species usually die.