Antechinomys
| Kultarr | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
| Family: | Dasyuridae |
| Subfamily: | Sminthopsinae |
| Tribe: | Sminthopsini |
| Genus: |
Antechinomys Krefft, 1867 |
| Species: | A. laniger |
| Binomial name | |
|
Antechinomys laniger (Gould, 1856) |
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| Distribution of the kultarr | |
The kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) (also called the "jerboa-marsupial") is a small insectivorous nocturnal marsupial inhabiting the arid interior of Australia. Preferred habitat includes stony deserts, shrubland, woodland, grassland and opens plains. The kultarr has a range of adaptations to help cope with Australia’s harsh arid environment including torpor similar to hibernation that helps conserve energy The species has declined across its former range since European settlement due to changes in land management practices and introduced predators.
The kultarr is a small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae with unique morphological features. The kultarr is nocturnal, hunting a variety of invertebrates including spiders, crickets and cockroaches. During the day it shelters in a burrows in hollow logs, beneath grass tussocks, at the base of shrubs and trees or cracks in the soil. Males weigh between 17-30 grams and 80–100 mm in length. Females are slightly smaller between 14–29 grams and 70–95 mm in length. They have a brown or fawn-sandy color, with a white underside. The kultarr has a long tail with a distinctive dark brush-like tip. The kultarr has a sharply pointed muzzle with particularly large eyes and ears, with eyes having dark rings around them. The kultarr has distinguishing elongated hind legs having four toes similar to Macropodidae. The kultarrs hind legs are designed for a bipedal or hopping style movement. used to evade predators and catch prey such as insects Kultarrs have been recorded moving at speeds of 13.8 km/h in open country.
The kultarr is the sole member of the Antechinomys genus of the family Dasyuridae. Originally collected by Sir Thomas Mitchell in New South Wales it was subsequently described as Phascogale lanigera by John Gould in 1856.
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Wikipedia