Red-cheeked Dunnart

Taxobox
name = Red-cheeked DunnartMSW3 Groves|pages=36]
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group|year=1996|id=40549|title=Sminthopsis virginiae|downloaded=12 May 2006]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Dasyuromorphia
familia = Dasyuridae
genus = "Sminthopsis"
species = ""'S. virginiae"
binomial = "Sminthopsis virginiae"
binomial_authority = (de Tarragon, 1847)

The Red-cheeked Dunnart ("Sminthopsis virginiae") is so called because of the distinctive red hair on its cheek. It is an Australasian marsupial. Its total length is 167-270 mm; its average body length is 80-135 mm with a tail of 87-135 mm. Ear length is 12-13 mm. Its weight varies between 18 and 75 grams. Its tail is thin and pale pink.

Distribution and habitat

The Red-cheeked Dunnart is distributed in Australia and New Guinea.The nominate subspecies "S. v. virginiae" occurs in the Queensland around the North Gulf, NE coasts, Mackay to Cape York. Subspecies "S. v. nitela" inhabits the Kimberley's to the top of Northern Territory. Habitat includes woodlands, open rocky forests, savannah grasslands, swamps, soaks and margins of tropical forests.

Social organisation and breeding

The behaviour of the Red-cheecked Dunnart, like most "Sminthopsis" species, is not well known. They breed from October to March. Young are gestated for 15 days and weaned at 65-70 days with maturity by 4-6 months. Breeding may include many litters one after another.

Diet

Its typical diet includes mainly small reptiles.

ubspecies

There are three recognised subspecies of the Red-cheeked Dunnart:
*"S. v. virginiae", found in Australia
*"S. v. nitela", found in Australia
*"S. v. rufigenis", found in New Guinea

References

*

External links

* [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=MARSUPIALIA;pstrTaxa=785;pstrChecklistMode=1 Australian Biological Resources Study]