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]

      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]

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      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]

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      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]

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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. p. 28. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
      2. ^ Burbidge, A., Cooper, N., Woolley, P. & Morris, K. (2008). Pseudantechinus woolleyae. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 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 0-19-550870-X. 
      4. ^ a b Woolley, P.A. (1995). "Woolley's False Antechinus". In Strahan, Ronald. The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 80–81 
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      Last modified on 26 April 2013, at 05:30