Ningbing False Antechinus
Encyclopedia
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
.
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 antechinus
es, particularly the Fat-tailed False Antechinus.
(Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis) but the females have four and not six teats. It also has a longer tail, with long hairs at the base and the remainder slightly scaly in appearance.
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.
, inhabiting rocky outcrops in a wide range of vegetation types.
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...
found in north-western Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is locally common throughout the Kimberley
Kimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
Taxonomy
The Ningbing False Antechinus was first collected by Harry ButlerHarry Butler
William Henry "Harry" Butler CBE is an Australian naturalist and environmental consultant. He is a populariser of science and natural history for both child and adult audiences and, as conservation consultant to the Barrow Island oilfield and many other projects, has played a major role in...
at Ningbing, an abandoned station in the Kimberley region. It was long considered to be a form of the Fat-tailed False Antechinus
Fat-tailed False Antechinus
The Fat-tailed False Antechinus , also called the Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus and Red-eared Antechinus, is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order...
(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
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...
and is closely related to other false antechinus
False antechinus
The genus Pseudantechinus are members of the Dasyuromorphia order. They are often called false antechinuses, although this genus includes the Sandstone Dibbler, which was previously assigned to a different genus....
es, particularly the Fat-tailed False Antechinus.
Description
The Ningbing False Antechinus is similar to the Fat-tailed False AntechinusFat-tailed False Antechinus
The Fat-tailed False Antechinus , also called the Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus and Red-eared Antechinus, is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order...
(Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis) but the females have four and not six teats. It also has a longer tail, with long hairs at the base and the remainder slightly scaly in appearance.
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.
Habitat
The Ningbing False Antechinus is found in the Kimberley region of Western AustraliaKimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
, inhabiting rocky outcrops in a wide range of vegetation types.