| Musky Rat-kangaroo[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Suborder: | Macropodiformes |
| Family: | Hypsiprymnodontidae |
| Genus: | Hypsiprymnodon Ramsay, 1876 |
| Species: | H. moschatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Ollie Tabooger, 1876 |
|
| Musky Rat Kangaroo range | |
The Musky Rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) is a marsupial species found in the rainforests of northeast Australia. Although some scientists place this species as a subfamily (Hypsiprymnodontinae) of the family Potoroidae, the most recent classification[1] places it in the family Hypsiprymnodontidae with prehistoric rat-kangaroos.
It is the smallest macropod that is quadrupedal and only diurnal. The Musky Rat-kangaroo is approximately 1 foot long and has a hairless tail, and eats fallen fruit and large seeds, as well as small invertebrates. [3]
It moves by extending its body and then bringing both of its hind legs forward, and uses an opposable digit on the hind foot to climb trees.[3]