Red-cheeked, narrow-footed pouch mouse
| Red-cheeked, narrow-footed pouch mouse | ||||||||||||
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Red-cheeked thin-footed bag-mouse ( Sminthopsis virginiae ), drawing by Joseph Smit |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Sminthopsis virginiae | ||||||||||||
| ( de Tarragon , 1847) |
The red-cheeked narrow-foot pouch mouse ( Sminthopsis virginiae ) is a species of marsupial from the genus of narrow-foot pouch mice .
description
The head body length of the males is 96 mm to 135 mm, the tail is 100 mm to 133 mm long and the weight is 31 to 58 g. With a head body length of 90 mm to 133 mm, a tail length of 90 mm to 122 mm and a weight of 18 to 34 g, females are only slightly smaller but significantly lighter. The length of the ears is 12 mm to 13 mm. The fur is dark gray on the back and whitish on the belly. A blackish stripe on the middle of the muzzle and the head and the reddish cheeks is striking. The tail is sparsely covered with dark hair, but in some Northern Territory specimens it is pale. Sexually mature specimens are slower.
Distribution, subspecies and habitat
This species is common in northern Australia , southern New Guinea and the Aru Islands . There are three subspecies, one of which may become an independent species in the future. The Australian subspecies S. v. nitela and S. v. virginiae were crossed with each other in captivity. Crossing attempts between S. v. nitela and S. v. rufigensis were not successful.
- The distribution area of the subspecies S. virginiae virginiae is in the north of Queensland and extends from Cape York to Mackay .
- The subspecies S. virginiae nitela lives in the north of the Northern Territory and in some small areas in the Kimberley region .
- S. virginiae rufigensis lives in the south of New Guinea and on the Aru Islands.
The habitat consists of savannahs in New Guinea, and woodlands, grasslands, swamps, moors and agricultural areas in Australia. The animals probably build their nests on the ground under thick grass or under screw trees ( pandanus ).
Reproduction
The reproductive behavior of this species has been observed in specimens kept in human care. The young are born after a gestation period of 15 days. Their number is limited by the number of teats on the females (eight in S. v. Nitela and S. v. Virginiae and six in S. v. Rufigensis ). The pups are suckled for anywhere from 65 to 70 days and become sexually mature at 4 to 6 months of age.
nutrition
The diet of this species consists mainly of insects. The animals can also prey on small reptiles and possibly also various small mammals.
Danger
The IUCN lists the species as "not endangered" (least concern) .
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e Andrew Baker: Family Dasyuridae (Carnivorous Marsupials). Pages 334-348 in Don E. Wilson , Russell A. Mittermeier : Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 5. Monotremes and Marsupials. Lynx Editions, 2015, ISBN 978-84-96553-99-6
- ↑ Sminthopsis virginiae in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Posted by: Helgen, K., Dickman, C., Lunde, D., Burnett, S., Woinarski, J. & Woolley, P., 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
