Fat-tailed False Antechinus

Taxobox
name = Fat-tailed False AntechinusMSW3 Groves|pages=27]
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006 | assessors = Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group | year = 1996 | title = Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis | id = 40537 | downloaded = 2006-08-15]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Dasyuromorphia
familia = Dasyuridae
genus = "Pseudantechinus"
species = "P. macdonnellensis"
binomial = "Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis"
binomial_authority = (Spencer, 1896)

The Fat-tailed False Antechinus ("Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis"), also called the Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus and Red-eared Antechinus, is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order. It is an inhabitant of western and central Australia.

Taxonomy

The Fat-tailed False Antechinus was first described in 1896 by Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer, who placed it in the genus "Phascogale". It was for a long time included in the genus "Antechinus".Citation|last=Woolley|first=P.A.|contribution=Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus|title=The Mammals of Australia|year=1995|publisher=Reed Books|pages=76-77|editor-first=Ronald|editor-last=Strahan] The species has formerly included the Alexandria False Antechinus ("P. mimulus"), the Ningbing False Antechinus ("P. ningbing"), and Woolley's False Antechinus ("P. woolleyae").

The Fat-tailed False Antechinus is a member of the family Dasyuridae. Its species name, "macdonnellensis", refers to the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, where it was first discovered.

Description

The Fat-tailed False Antechinus is 9.5-10.5cm long with a 7.5-8.5 cm tail; it weighs 20-45g. It has a carrot-shaped tail swollen with fat which serves as a food reserve. Its fur is grey-brown. It has litters of up to six young, born in July-September (slightly later further west in the range).cite book|first=Peter|last=Menkhorst|year=2001|title=A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=60] It is an insectivorous and nocturnal species.

Habitat

The Fat-tailed False Antechinus is found throughout much of central Australia, including South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. An outlying population in more coastal areas of Western Australia has been reclassified as a new species, Rory Cooper's False Antechinus ("P. roryi"). The species inhabits rocky slopes and plains.

References

External links

* [http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Pseudantechinus_macdonnellensis Ageing, longevity and life history of "Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis"]