Mulgara
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221039662
2008-06-22T20:03:27Z
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{{Taxobox
| name = Mulgaras<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=24}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| infraclassis = [[Marsupialia]]
| ordo = [[Dasyuromorphia]]
| familia = [[Dasyuridae]]
| subfamilia = [[Dasyurinae]]
| tribus = [[Dasyurini]]
| genus = '''''Dasycercus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], 1875
| type_species = ''[[Crest-tailed Mulgara|Chaetocercus cristicauda]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Johann Ludwig Gerard Krefft|Krefft]], 1867
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision = ''[[Brush-tailed Mulgara|Dasycercus blythi]]''<br>''[[Crest-tailed Mulgara|Dasycercus cristicauda]]''
}}
'''Mulgaras''' are the two species in the '''''Dasycercus''''' genus. They are [[marsupial]] [[carnivore]]s closely related to the [[Tasmanian Devil]] and the [[quoll]]s that lives in [[desert]]s and [[spinifex]] bush of central [[Australia]]. They are 12.5-22 cm long with a 7-13 cm tail. They are nocturnal but occasionally "sunbathe" in the entrance of the burrow it dwells in. They tend to stay in places that have been in shadow. Their [[kidney]]s are highly developed to excrete extremely concentrated urine in order to preserve water, as the animals never drink. They feed mostly on insects, but also eat lizards and newborn [[snakes]]. They breed from June-September and have litters of 6-7 young. The pouch comprises two lateral folds of skin.
The genus once contained other species, but they have been removed to other genera, leaving only ''D. cristicauda''. Recent research has shown that there are two distinct species. The two species are very similar and were only recently described as being distinct. The [[Brush-tailed Mulgara]] (''D. blythi'') has a non-crested tail, two upper premolars, and six nipples. The [[Crest-tailed Mulgara]] (''D. cristicauda'') has a crested tail, three upper premolars, and eight nipples.<ref name=memoirs>{{cite journal | author = Woolley, P.A.| year = 2005 | title = The species of ''Dasycercus'' Peters, 1875 (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) | journal = Memoirs of Museum Victoria | url = http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/memoirs/docs/62_Woolley.pdf | format = PDF | volume = 62 | issue = 2 | pages = 213–221}}</ref>
Much is still to be learned about the mulgaras, such as their social behaviour.
The generic name ''Dasycercus'' means "hairy-tail".<ref name = Strahan>{{Cite book | last = Woolley | first = P.A. | chapter = Mulgara | editor = Ronald Strahan | title = The Mammals of Australia | pages = 55-56 | publisher = Reed Books | year = 1995}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Dasyuromorphia|D.D.}}
{{marsupial-stub}}
[[Category:Dasyuromorphs]]
[[Category:Mammals of the Northern Territory]]
[[de:Kammschwanz-Beutelmaus]]
[[es:Dasycercus]]
[[fr:Dasycercus]]
[[la:Dasycercus]]
[[pl:Mulgara]]
[[pt:Dasycercus]]