Mulgara
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Dasycercus blythi |
Mulgaras are the two species in the Dasycercus genus. They are marsupial carnivores closely related to the Tasmanian Devil and the quolls that lives in deserts and spinifex bush of central Australia. They are 12.5-22 cm long with a 7-13 cm tail. They are nocturnal but occasionally "sunbathe" in the entrance of the burrow it dwells in. They tend to stay in places that have been in shadow. Their kidneys are highly developed to excrete extremely concentrated urine in order to preserve water, as the animals never drink. They feed mostly on insects, but also eat lizards and newborn snakes. They breed from June-September and have litters of 6-7 young. The pouch comprises two lateral folds of skin.
The genus once contained other species, but they have been removed to other genera, leaving only D. cristicauda. Recent research has shown that there are two distinct species. The two species are very similar and were only recently described as being distinct. The Brush-tailed Mulgara (D. blythi) has a non-crested tail, two upper premolars, and six nipples. The Crested-tailed Mulgara (D. cristicauda) has a crested tail, three upper premolars, and eight nipples.[2]
Much is still to be learned about the mulgaras, such as their social behaviour.
The generic name Dasycercus means "hairy-tail".[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 24. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Woolley, P.A. (2005). "The species of Dasycercus Peters, 1875 (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)" (PDF). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 62 (2): 213-221.
- ^ Woolley, P.A. (1995), "Mulgara", in Strahan, Ronald, The Mammals of Australia, Reed Books, at 55-56
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