Figure 5.

Light micrographs of the skin and heart of the neonates of Dasyurus viverrinus (A,B,E,F) and Trichosurus vulpecula (C,D). Superficial capillaries (indicated by arrowheads) were located close to the epidermis (4A), allowing for transcutaneous gas exchange. Capillaries (indicated by asterisk) were running through the dermis (Fig. 4B‐D), indicating a transport of blood to and from the subcutaneous capillaries. Various large blood vessels were running from peripheral regions towards the heart (C,D). Structural details of the heart of the newborn D. viverrinus indicated a large blood vessel (possibly a pulmocutaneous vein) communicating with the left atrium (E, arrow) and the lack of an inter‐ventricular septum (F). bv, blood vessel; d, dermis; e, epidermis; h, heart; la, left atrium; lv, left ventricle; oe, oesophagus; ra, right atrium; right ventricle; t, trachea. Magnification is indicated by the scale bar.