Mulgara
Encyclopedia
Mulgaras are the two species in the genus Dasycercus. They are marsupial
carnivore
s, closely related to the Tasmanian Devil
and the quoll
s, that live 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 they dwell in. They tend to stay in places that have been in shadow. Their kidney
s are highly developed to excrete extremely concentrated urine 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 were moved to other genera, leaving only D. cristicauda. Recent research has shown that there are two distinct species, which are very similar. The Brush-tailed Mulgara
(D. blythi), synonymous with D. hilleri, 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.
Much is still to be learned about the mulgaras, such as their social behaviour.
The generic name Dasycercus means "hairy-tail."
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...
carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
s, closely related to the Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, now found in the wild only on the Australian island state of Tasmania. The size of a small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the thylacine in 1936...
and the quoll
Quoll
The quoll, or native cat, is a carnivorous marsupial native to mainland Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. It is primarily nocturnal and spends most of the day in its den. There are six species of quoll; four are found in Australia and two in New Guinea...
s, that live in desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s and spinifex
Triodia (plant genus)
Triodia is a large genus of hummock-forming grass endemic to Australia; they are commonly known as spinifex, although they are not a part of the coastal genus Spinifex. There are currently 64 recognised species...
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 they dwell in. They tend to stay in places that have been in shadow. Their kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
s are highly developed to excrete extremely concentrated urine 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 were moved to other genera, leaving only D. cristicauda. Recent research has shown that there are two distinct species, which are very similar. The Brush-tailed Mulgara
Brush-tailed Mulgara
The Brush-tailed Mulgara is a large carnivorous Australian marsupial species. Its body mass is over 100grams, with males being slightly larger than females. Their head length is 15 cm, and tail length is 9 cm....
(D. blythi), synonymous with D. hilleri, has a non-crested tail, two upper premolars, and six nipples. The Crest-tailed Mulgara
Crest-tailed Mulgara
The Crest-tailed Mulgara also called the Ampurta is a species of carnivorous marsupial from Australia. Also called the Crest-tailed Marsupial Mouse, this animal slightly resembles a placental rat....
(D. cristicauda) has a crested tail, three upper premolars, and eight nipples.
Much is still to be learned about the mulgaras, such as their social behaviour.
The generic name Dasycercus means "hairy-tail."
See also
- Angas Downs Indigenous Protected Area