Editing Macropodidae (section)

== Rat-kangaroos ==
Rat-kangaroos are small hopping animals, similar in appearance to true [[rats]]. They should not be confused with the [[kangaroo rat]] of the family [[Heteromyidae]], which, being [[rodents]], are [[placental]] [[mammals]] and not related at all to these marsupials. 

There are four different genera: ''Bettongia'', ''Potorous'', ''Aepyprymnus'' and ''Caloprymnus'', of which only the first two still have numerous populations; the other two genera risk extinction as they are hunted both by humans and by their main natural predator, the fox. Rat-kangaroos are about the size of a rabbit; they have hind legs that are on average smaller than those of macropodines and a prehensile tail, which they use to grasp and transport materials for building their nests. 

In addition to the rat-kangaroos, the musky rat-kangaroo (genus ''Hypsiprymnodon'') is also part of the potoroines, so called because of the strong odor it emits. Slightly larger than a rat, it is characterized by hind legs with five toes and by an almost completely bare, scaly tail. Unlike all other macropodids, it has a first toe on the hind legs that lacks a claw. It lives in rainforests, feeding on plants but also insects and small [[invertebrates]]. According to some scientists, it may have particular affinities with marsupials of the family [[Phalangeridae]].

'''Scientific classification''': Macropodids constitute a family within the order of [[marsupials]], class [[mammals]], ''subphylum'' [[vertebrates]], ''phylum'' [[chordates]].

{{Portal|Animal|Kangaroo|Macropodidae}}