Paucident planigale

The paucident planigale (Planigale gilesi), also known as Giles' planigale, is a very small species of carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae.

Paucident planigale[1]

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Planigale
Species:
P. gilesi
Binomial name
Planigale gilesi
Aitken, 1972
Paucident planigale range

Taxonomy

The paucident planigale was not formally described until 1972, when it was named Planigale gilesi in honour of the explorer Ernest Giles, who explored Australia's deserts, including this species' habitat.[3] It is one of five members of the genus Planigale.

Description

The paucident (from Latin pauci ("few") + dentēs ("teeth")) planigale differs from other planigales in its plain grey colouring and its two premolars in each tooth row (all other planigales have three).[4] It feeds on many small creatures, including beetles, locusts, spiders or other arthropods, and even occasionally feeds on small lizards or mammals. The paucident planigale kills small prey with quick bites. Although it is believed that fewer than twenty percent of individuals survive for more than two years, captive animals have reached five years of age.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The paucident planigale is found in arid inland areas from Lake Eyre, South Australia, to Moree, New South Wales, and from Mildura, Victoria, to the southwestern Northern Territory.[4] It is often found in areas with cracked clay soils, including floodplains and interdune areas among sandhills, the cracks providing shelter from adverse weather conditions.[3]

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References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 36. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Ellis, M.; van Weenen, J. & Pennay, M. (2008). "Planigale gilesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  3. Read, D. G. (1995). "Giles' Planigale". In Strahan, Ronald (ed.). The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 107–109. ISBN 0-7301-0484-2.
  4. Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 64.
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