The southern mulgara (Dasycercus archeri) is a newly described, potentially extinct, species of mulgara.[1] The species is named after Australian palaeontologist Michael Archer,[1] who contributed to many Australian palaeontological and mammalian discoveries.

Southern mulgara
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Dasycercus
Species:
D. archeri
Binomial name
Dasycercus archeri
Newman-Martin & Travouillon, 2023

Description

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The species is very similar to the crest-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda), but differs in the morphology of its dentition.[1] Externally, the Southern mulgara has a crested tail and 8 nipples,[1] which had been previously used to differentiate the crest-tailed mulgara (D. cristicauda) and the brush-tailed mulgara (D. blythi).[2]

Distribution

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Based on subfossil remains and preserved museum specimens, it is believed that the Southern mulgara occurred commonly throughout the Nullarbor Plain, and Great Victoria Desert, through to the caves of the northern Swan coastal Plain.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Newman-Martin, Jake; Travouillon, Kenny J.; et al. (2023). "Taxonomic review of the genus Dasycercus (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) using modern and subfossil material; and the description of three new species". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 47 (4): 624–661. Bibcode:2023Alch...47..624N. doi:10.1080/03115518.2023.2262083.
  2. ^ Woolley, P. A. (2006). "Studies on the crest-tailed mulgara Dasycercus cristicauda and the brush-tailed mulgara Dasycercus blythi (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)". Australian Mammalogy. 28 (1): 117–120. doi:10.1071/am06018. ISSN 1836-7402.