Desert Rat-kangaroo
Encyclopedia
The Desert Rat-kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris), also called the Buff-nosed Rat-kangaroo or the Plains Rat-kangaroo, is an extinct marsupial
that lived in a sand ridge and gibber plain
habitat in southwestern Queensland
and northeastern South Australia
. It was the size of a small rabbit
. It showed great endurance while being chased on horseback at high speeds, and "paused only to die". It sheltered in a flimsy nest by day. At night, it emerged to feed. It lived alone and was so independent of water that it even shunned the succulent plant
s of the sand hills. It was first recorded by Europe
ans around 1841 and was not seen again for 90 years.
in London in 1843, on the basis of three specimens sent to him by George Grey
, the governor of South Australia at the time. However, after these early sightings, it was no longer recorded (aside from an unconfirmed report in 1878), and was widely believed to be extinct.
. There have been subsequent reported sightings of the animal in Queensland following periods of rain in the 1950's and again in the 1970's; possibly recent remains of the animal were also found during this period.
.
In view of its amazing recovery following a ninety year period when it wasn't seen, the extinction of the Desert Rat-kangaroo is not certain; thus, sightings of this animal would not fall into the cryptozoology
category.
In similar cases, the Broad-faced Potoroo
was last seen in the late 19th century and is considered extinct, Gilbert's Potoroo
was considered extinct for 120 years prior to its rediscovery in 1994, while the Long-footed Potoroo
was only discovered in 1967.
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
that lived in a sand ridge and gibber plain
Desert pavement
A desert pavement is a desert surface that is covered with closely packed, interlocking angular or rounded rock fragments of pebble and cobble size.-Formation:Several theories have been proposed for their formation...
habitat in southwestern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and northeastern South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It was the size of a small rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
. It showed great endurance while being chased on horseback at high speeds, and "paused only to die". It sheltered in a flimsy nest by day. At night, it emerged to feed. It lived alone and was so independent of water that it even shunned the succulent plant
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
s of the sand hills. It was first recorded by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans around 1841 and was not seen again for 90 years.
Discovery
The Desert Rat-Kangaroo was discovered in the early 1840's and described by John GouldJohn Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
in London in 1843, on the basis of three specimens sent to him by George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
, the governor of South Australia at the time. However, after these early sightings, it was no longer recorded (aside from an unconfirmed report in 1878), and was widely believed to be extinct.
Rediscovery
Following the relief of drought conditions which improved the local habitat, the animal was rediscovered in 1931 when Hedley Finlayson found a thriving colony of them. He made multiple returns, but after a few years the population disappeared. The last confirmed record of the species came in 1935 from near Ooroowilanie, east of Lake EyreLake Eyre
Lake Eyre is the lowest point in Australia, at approximately below sea level, and, on the rare occasions that it fills, it is the largest lake in Australia and 18th largest in the world...
. There have been subsequent reported sightings of the animal in Queensland following periods of rain in the 1950's and again in the 1970's; possibly recent remains of the animal were also found during this period.
Extinction
The Desert Rat-kangaroo was declared extinct in 1994, making it the only mammal species to be recovered and then lost again. The rapid decline of the Desert Rat-kangaroo shortly after its recovery in 1931 correlates with the invasion of its habitat by the red foxRed Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
.
In view of its amazing recovery following a ninety year period when it wasn't seen, the extinction of the Desert Rat-kangaroo is not certain; thus, sightings of this animal would not fall into the cryptozoology
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven...
category.
In similar cases, the Broad-faced Potoroo
Broad-faced Potoroo
The Broad-faced Potoroo is an extinct species of marsupial that once lived in Australia. The first specimen was collected in 1839 and described by John Gould in 1844, but even then it was rare and only a handful of specimens were ever collected, the last in 1875...
was last seen in the late 19th century and is considered extinct, Gilbert's Potoroo
Gilbert's Potoroo
Gilbert's Potoroo is an Australian marsupial, sometimes called a rat-kangaroo, that is critically endangered. It is described as pointed in the face and about the size of a rabbit. It lives in a restricted area on the southwest coast of Western Australia. Gilbert's Potoroos now exist on Bald...
was considered extinct for 120 years prior to its rediscovery in 1994, while the Long-footed Potoroo
Long-footed Potoroo
The Long-footed Potoroo is a species of potoroo found in southeastern Australia, in a small area around the coastal border between New South Wales and Victoria. It was discovered in 1967 when an adult male was caught in a dog trap in the forest southwest of Bonang, Victoria...
was only discovered in 1967.