Sandhill dunnart

Sandhill dunnart[1]
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Sminthopsis
Species: S. psammophila
Binomial name
Sminthopsis psammophila
Spencer, 1895
Sandhill dunnart range

The sandhill dunnart (Sminthopsis psammophila) is a species of small carnivorous Australian marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. It is known from four scattered arid areas of Australia: near Lake Amadeus in Northern Territory, the central Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, the southwestern edge of the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia, and Yellabinna Sand Dunes in South Australia.[3]

Description

The sandhill dunnart is so rare, little is known about its appearance. At around 1 to 2 inches, it is very small. It is one of the largest and rarest of all dunnarts.[3] It is coloured grey to buff and is found in low parallel sand dunes, particularly near hummock grass.[3]

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References

  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M, eds. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 35–36. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ Robinson, T., Gaikhorst, G., Pearson, D. & Copley, P. (2008). Sminthopsis psammophila. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as endangered
  3. ^ a b c Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 74. 
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External links

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Last modified on 24 April 2013, at 10:39