Ningbing False Antechinus

Ningbing False Antechinus[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Dasyuromorphia
Family:	Dasyuridae
Genus:	Pseudantechinus
Species:	P. ningbing
Binomial name
Pseudantechinus ningbing Kitchener 1988
Ningbing False Antechinus range

The Ningbing False Antechinus (Pseudantechinus ningbing), also known as the Ningbing Pseudantechinus, is a small species of carnivorous marsupial found in north-western Australia. It is locally common throughout the Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.^[3]

Taxonomy

The Ningbing False Antechinus was first collected by Harry Butler at Ningbing, an abandoned station in the Kimberley region. It was long considered to be a form of the Fat-tailed False Antechinus (P. macdonnellensis), but was given distinct species status by D. J. Kitchener in 1988. Its common and species names honour the location of its discovery.

The Ningbing False Antechinus is a dasyurid marsupial and is closely related to other false antechinuses, particularly the Fat-tailed False Antechinus.

Description

The Ningbing False Antechinus is similar to the Fat-tailed False Antechinus (Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis) but the females have four and not six teats.^[3] It also has a longer tail, with long hairs at the base and the remainder slightly scaly in appearance.^[4]

The behaviour of this species is little known. It mates in June and has a comparatively long gestation of 45-52 days. Young are born in July-August and are weaned by October-November.^[3]

Habitat

The Ningbing False Antechinus is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, inhabiting rocky outcrops in a wide range of vegetation types.^[3]

References

1. ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 27. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
2. ^ Burbidge, A. & Woinarski, J. (2008). Pseudantechinus ningbing. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 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. 62. 
4. ^ Woolley, P.A. (1995). "Ningbing Pseudantechinus". In Strahan, Ronald. The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 79–80