Dunnart

A dunnart (from Noongar donat<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>) is a narrow-footed marsupial the size of a European mouse, of the genus Sminthopsis. Dunnarts have a largely insectivorous diet.

Taxonomy

Fat-tailed dunnart in its natural habitat.

The genus name Sminthopsis was published by Oldfield Thomas in 1887, the author noting that the name Podabrus that had previously been used to describe the species was preoccupied as a genus of beetles.<ref name="Divljan2015">Template:Cite journal</ref> The type species is Phascogale crassicaudata, published by John Gould in 1844.

There are 19 species,Template:Efn all of them in Australia or New Guinea:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Genus Sminthopsis
  • S. crassicaudata species-group
    • Fat-tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis crassicaudata
  • S. macroura species-group
    • Kakadu dunnart, Sminthopsis bindi
    • Carpentarian dunnart, Sminthopsis butleri
    • Julia Creek dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi
    • Stripe-faced dunnart, Sminthopsis macroura
    • Red-cheeked dunnart, Sminthopsis virginiae
  • S. granulipes species-group
    • White-tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis granulipes
  • S. griseoventer species-group
    • Grey-bellied dunnart, Sminthopsis griseoventer
  • S. murina species-group
    • Kangaroo Island dunnart, Sminthopsis aitkeni
    • Chestnut dunnart, Sminthopsis archeri
    • Little long-tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis dolichura
    • Sooty dunnart, Sminthopsis fuliginosus
    • Gilbert's dunnart, Sminthopsis gilberti
    • White-footed dunnart, Sminthopsis leucopus
    • Slender-tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis murina
  • S. psammophila species-group
    • Hairy-footed dunnart, Sminthopsis hirtipes
    • Ooldea dunnart, Sminthopsis ooldea
    • Sandhill dunnart, Sminthopsis psammophila
    • Lesser hairy-footed dunnart, Sminthopsis youngsoni

Additionally, two species are recognized by the American Society of Mammalogists:

• Froggatt's dunnart, Sminthopsis froggatti<ref>Template:Cite mdd</ref>
• Stalker's dunnart, Sminthopsis stalkeri<ref>Template:Cite mdd</ref>

The American Society of Mammalogists also lists S. griseoventer as a synonym of S. fuliginosa,<ref>Template:Cite mdd</ref> and moved S. longicaudata to the genus Antechinomys.<ref>Template:Cite mdd</ref>

Description

A male dunnart's Y chromosome is the smallest known mammalian Y chromosome.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

External links

• Marsupial Society's checklist