Woolley's False Antechinus

Woolley's False Antechinus[1]
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Pseudantechinus
Species: P. woolleyae
Binomial name
Pseudantechinus woolleyae
Kitchener & Caputi, 1988
Woolley's False Antechinus range

Woolley's False Antechinus (Pseudantechinus woolleyae), also known as Woolley's Pseudantechinus, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial belonging to the family Dasyuridae. It is found in the Australian state of Western Australia, primarily in the Pilbara, Ashburton and Murchison regions.[3]

Contents

Taxonomy

Woolley's False Antechinus was, like most false antechinuses, long believed to be a form of the Fat-tailed False Antechinus, which it closely resembles. It was not given full species status until 1988. The common and species names honour Dr Patricia Woolley, an Australian expert on dasyurid marsupials like this species.[4]

Description

Woolley's False Antechinus is the largest false antechinus and its behaviour is little known. It has a breeding life of two or more years, unlike many of its relatives which live for a very short time.[3] Births occur in September-October and the young are sexually mature at 10 months.[3]

Woolley's False Antechinus is coloured rich brown above and buff below. It has a flattened tail and chestnut patches behind its ears.[4]

Habitat

Woolley's False Antechinus inhabits rocky hillsides, usually vegetated with acacia scrub or spinifex grass. It is found in the western area of Western Australia.[3]

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 28. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
  2. ^ Burbidge, A., Cooper, N., Woolley, P. & Morris, K. (2008). Pseudantechinus woolleyae. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  3. ^ a b c d Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 60. ISBN 019550870X. 
  4. ^ a b Woolley, P.A. (1995). "Woolley's False Antechinus". In Strahan, Ronald. The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 80–81