Ningauis, members of the genus Ningaui, are small members of the dasyurid family. Along with the planigale

Planigale

The genus Planigale are small carnivorous marsupials found in Australia and New Guinea. It is the only genus in the Planigalini tribe of the subfamily Sminthopsinae...

s, they are among the smallest marsupials. They are related to the dunnarts and are restricted to arid

Arid

A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...

 regions of 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...

.

All ningauis are nocturnal hunters of invertebrates. In appearance they resemble mice

Mouse

A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...

 or similar small rodent

Rodent

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....

s, but can be distinguished by their pointed snouts. The genus Ningaui was one of the last of the Australian 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...

 genera to be erected; this occurred with the surprise discovery of the Wongai Ningaui

Wongai Ningaui

The Wongai Ningaui , also known as the Inland Ningaui, is a small carnivorous marsupial native to Australia.-Taxonomy:...

 (N. ridei) and the Pilbara Ningaui

Pilbara Ningaui

The Pilbara Ningaui , sometimes known as Ealey's Ningaui, is a tiny species of marsupial carnivore found in Australia. It rarely exceeds 5.8cm in body length, with a tail 6-7.6cm long and a weight of 5-9.4g...

 (N. timealeyi) in 1975.

The name "ningaui" refers to a creature from Aboriginal

Australian Aborigines

Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...

 myth.

Species

The three species of ningaui are:

• Wongai Ningaui
  Wongai Ningaui
  The Wongai Ningaui , also known as the Inland Ningaui, is a small carnivorous marsupial native to Australia.-Taxonomy:...
  
  , Ningaui ridei
• Pilbara Ningaui
  Pilbara Ningaui
  The Pilbara Ningaui , sometimes known as Ealey's Ningaui, is a tiny species of marsupial carnivore found in Australia. It rarely exceeds 5.8cm in body length, with a tail 6-7.6cm long and a weight of 5-9.4g...
  
  , Ningaui timealeyi
• Southern Ningaui
  Southern Ningaui
  The Southern Ningaui , also known as the Mallee Ningaui, is a tiny species of marsupial carnivore and a member of the family Dasyuridae...
  
  , Ningaui yvonneae