Embryology of the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata): A marsupial model for comparative mammalian developmental and evolutionary biology.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Marsupials are a diverse and unique group of mammals, but remain underutilized in developmental biology studies, hindering our understanding of mammalian diversity. This study focuses on establishing the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) as an emerging laboratory model, providing reproductive monitoring methods and a detailed atlas of its embryonic development.

Results

We monitored the reproductive cycles of female dunnarts and established methods to confirm pregnancy and generate timed embryos. With this, we characterized dunnart embryo development from cleavage to birth, and provided detailed descriptions of its organogenesis and heterochronic growth patterns. Drawing stage-matched comparisons with other species, we highlight the dunnarts accelerate

SUBMITTER: Newton AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11809135 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature