Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart
Encyclopedia
The Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis youngsoni) is a small carnivorous Australian marsupial
of the family Dasyuridae
. It is a widespread and fairly common species, being found in many desert areas of Western Australia
, Northern Territory
and Queensland
. Its foraging strategies have been studied by Haythornthwaite and Dickman.
The Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart is distinguished from the very similar Hairy-footed Dunnart
by its smaller size and less hairy soles.
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...
of the family Dasyuridae
Dasyuridae
Dasyuridae is a family of marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, including 61 species divided into 15 genera. Many are small and mouse-like, giving them the misnomer marsupial mice, but the group also includes the cat-sized quolls, as well as the Tasmanian Devil...
. It is a widespread and fairly common species, being found in many desert areas 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. Its foraging strategies have been studied by Haythornthwaite and Dickman.
The Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart is distinguished from the very similar Hairy-footed Dunnart
Hairy-footed Dunnart
The Hairy-footed Dunnart is a dunnart that has silver hairs on the soles of it hind feet accompanied by long hair on the side of its sole. It is an Australian marsupial similar to the Ooldea Dunnart, with its upper body yellow-brown and lower body white in colour...
by its smaller size and less hairy soles.