. The Ecology of arboreal folivores : a symposium held at the Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, May 29-31, 1975. Folivores; Forest ecology; Leaves; Mammals; Mammals. of the stomachs. Mason (1958) reports similar findings in his analysis of 130 stomachs in summer and autumn. Trichosurus caninus is also highly folivorous (Lucas, 1909). Additional dietary information is presented by Fitzgerald (1978). Rare and little-known Wyulda squamicaudata has been observed feeding on blossoms (Calaby, 1957). Phascolarctos cinereus is generally pictured as am
. The Ecology of arboreal folivores : a symposium held at the Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, May 29-31, 1975. Folivores; Forest ecology; Leaves; Mammals; Mammals. of the stomachs. Mason (1958) reports similar findings in his analysis of 130 stomachs in summer and autumn. Trichosurus caninus is also highly folivorous (Lucas, 1909). Additional dietary information is presented by Fitzgerald (1978). Rare and little-known Wyulda squamicaudata has been observed feeding on blossoms (Calaby, 1957). Phascolarctos cinereus is generally pictured as among the most specialized of arboreal folivores. Its food consists almost entirely of gum leaves (Eucalyp- tus). The animal is very particular in its preference for tender shoots and young leaves (Jones, 1923; Kershaw, 1934; Sutton, 1934; McNally, 1956). Ad- ditional dietary information is presented by Eber- hardt (1978). Phalangeroids have a single large procumbent mandibular incisor on each side that occludes with 3 vertically positioned heteromorphic maxillary in- cisors. Both within and between phalangeroid species, the 3 upper incisors vary greatly in size and angulation (particularly the I1). In general, during occlusion the mandibular incisor functions with the I1 in shearing, and with the I2 (and sometimes with the I5) in crush- ing. Unlike their incisors, the premolars of pha- langeroids vary greatly in number, and also prob- ably in function. Due to the limitations of space, the various combinations of premolar number and patterns of occlusion will not be dealt with here. The great variability in both the anterior dentition and in the premolars among these animals must relate to dif- ferent patterns of food ingestion and acquisition. There is considerable variation in relative incisor size among phalangeroids (Figure 11). Dactylonax palpator and Dactylopsila trivirgata are known to dig,. Figure 11. Maxillary central incisor size among phalangeroid marsupials. Logc sum
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