Planigalinae
Encyclopedia
The former subfamily Planigalinae contained the planigales and the ningauis: very small marsupial
carnivores native to Australia
which are, like the quoll
s, antechinus
es, dibbler
s, Tasmanian Devil
, and many others, part of the biological order Dasyuromorphia
: the carnivorous marsupials. The subfamily is now contained in the Sminthopsinae
subfamily, and the two genera are split between two different tribes; the planigale
s are by themselves in their own tribe, while the ningaui
are lumped with the dunnart
s and the Kultarr
.
There are 8 species in 2 genera. All members of the subfamily are very small, ranging from the Paucident Planigale
at just over 10 grams to the smallest marsupial of all, the 4.3 gram Long-tailed Planigale
. Most are about 8 grams, or about half the size of an average mouse.
Of the 8 species, two are from the tropical northern part of the continent, the other five from the arid or semi-arid centre. Four of the five planigales have been known for many years—John Gould
described the Common Planigale in 1851—but the Paucident Planigale and all three ningauis were unknown to science until the 1970s and 1980s.
All 8 species are nocturnal carnivores which hunt a range of small creatures, typically insects, larvae, insect eggs, small lizards and the young of small mammals. Although tiny, they are very bold, at least some of the species regularly take prey larger than themselves. Even the widespread Common Planigale, which can be found in the outer suburbs of Brisbane
is poorly known. Until the improvements in biochemical analysis methods towards the end of the 20th century, very little was known about the relationships between the smaller carnivorous marsupials: it is only in recent years that it has been possible to discover that the Planigalinae are a distinct group within the Dasyuromorphia.
Family Dasyuridae
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...
carnivores native to 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...
which are, like 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, antechinus
Antechinus
Antechinus is a genus of dasyurid marsupial that is indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. The majority of Antechinus species occur in Australia and only two species have been described in New Guinea...
es, dibbler
Dibbler
Dibbler is the common name for Parantechinus apicalis, an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands. It is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order, and the only member of the genus, Parantechinus...
s, 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 many others, part of the biological order Dasyuromorphia
Dasyuromorphia
The order Dasyuromorphia comprises most of the Australian carnivorous marsupials, including quolls, dunnarts, the numbat, the Tasmanian devil, and the recently extinct thylacine...
: the carnivorous marsupials. The subfamily is now contained in the Sminthopsinae
Sminthopsinae
- Classification :* Subfamily Sminthopsinae** Tribe Sminthopsini*** Genus Antechinomys**** Kultarr, Antechinomys laniger*** Genus Ningaui**** Wongai Ningaui, Ningaui ridei**** Pilbara Ningaui, Ningaui timealeyi...
subfamily, and the two genera are split between two different tribes; 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 are by themselves in their own tribe, while the ningaui
Ningaui
Ningauis, members of the genus Ningaui, are small members of the dasyurid family. Along with the planigales, they are among the smallest marsupials. They are related to the dunnarts and are restricted to arid regions of Australia....
are lumped with the dunnart
Dunnart
Dunnarts are furry narrow-footed marsupials the size of a mouse, members of the genus Sminthopsis. They are mainly insectivorous. A male dunnart's Y chromosome has only 4 genes, making it the smallest known mammalian Y chromosome....
s and the Kultarr
Kultarr
The Kultarr , also known as the Jerboa-marsupial, the Jerboa Pouched-mouse, the Wuhl-wuhl or the Pitchi-pitchi, is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order. It is the only species in the Antechinomys genus...
.
There are 8 species in 2 genera. All members of the subfamily are very small, ranging from the Paucident Planigale
Paucident Planigale
The Paucident Planigale , also known as Giles' Planigale, is a very small species of carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae.-Taxonomy:...
at just over 10 grams to the smallest marsupial of all, the 4.3 gram Long-tailed Planigale
Long-tailed Planigale
The Long-tailed Planigale , also known as Ingram's Planigale or the Northern Planigale, is the smallest of all marsupials, and one of the smallest of all mammals...
. Most are about 8 grams, or about half the size of an average mouse.
Of the 8 species, two are from the tropical northern part of the continent, the other five from the arid or semi-arid centre. Four of the five planigales have been known for many years—John Gould
John Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
described the Common Planigale in 1851—but the Paucident Planigale and all three ningauis were unknown to science until the 1970s and 1980s.
All 8 species are nocturnal carnivores which hunt a range of small creatures, typically insects, larvae, insect eggs, small lizards and the young of small mammals. Although tiny, they are very bold, at least some of the species regularly take prey larger than themselves. Even the widespread Common Planigale, which can be found in the outer suburbs of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
is poorly known. Until the improvements in biochemical analysis methods towards the end of the 20th century, very little was known about the relationships between the smaller carnivorous marsupials: it is only in recent years that it has been possible to discover that the Planigalinae are a distinct group within the Dasyuromorphia.
Family Dasyuridae
- Subfamily DasyurinaeDasyurinaeThe subfamily Dasyurinae includes several genera of small carnivorous marsupials native to Australia: quolls, Kowari, Mulgara, Kaluta, dibblers, phascogales pseudantechinuses, and the Tasmanian Devil...
: quollQuollThe 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, Kowari, Mulgara, Kaluta, dibblerDibblerDibbler is the common name for Parantechinus apicalis, an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands. It is a member of the Dasyuromorphia order, and the only member of the genus, Parantechinus...
s, pseudantechinuses, and the Tasmanian DevilTasmanian DevilThe 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... - Subfamily Phascogalinae: phascogalePhascogaleThe Phascogales , also known as Wambengers, are carnivorous Australian marsupials of the family Dasyuridae. There are two species: the Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Red-tailed Phascogale...
s and antechinusAntechinusAntechinus is a genus of dasyurid marsupial that is indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. The majority of Antechinus species occur in Australia and only two species have been described in New Guinea...
es - Subfamily Sminthopsinae: dunnartDunnartDunnarts are furry narrow-footed marsupials the size of a mouse, members of the genus Sminthopsis. They are mainly insectivorous. A male dunnart's Y chromosome has only 4 genes, making it the smallest known mammalian Y chromosome....
s and the Kultarr - SUBFAMILY PLANIGALINAE:
- Genus Planigale
- Giles' Planigale (
- Long-tailed PlanigaleLong-tailed PlanigaleThe Long-tailed Planigale , also known as Ingram's Planigale or the Northern Planigale, is the smallest of all marsupials, and one of the smallest of all mammals...
(Planigale ingrami) - Common Planigale (Planigale maculata)
- New Guinean PlanigaleNew Guinean PlanigaleThe New Guinean Planigale , also known as the Papuan Planigale, is a species of small marsupial carnivore native to the Trans Fly savanna and grasslands of New Guinea....
(Planigale novaeguineae) - Narrow-nosed PlanigaleNarrow-nosed PlanigaleThe Narrow-nosed Planigale is a species of very small marsupial carnivore of the family Dasyuridae.-Taxonomy:The Narrow-nosed Planigale was described by Ellis Le Geyt Troughton in 1928, separating it from the Common Planigale with which it had previously been associated...
(Planigale tenuirostris)
- Genus Planigale
- Genus Ningaui
- Wongai NingauiWongai NingauiThe Wongai Ningaui , also known as the Inland Ningaui, is a small carnivorous marsupial native to Australia.-Taxonomy:...
(Ninguai ridei) - Pilbara NingauiPilbara NingauiThe 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...
(Ninguai timealeyi) - Southern NingauiSouthern NingauiThe Southern Ningaui , also known as the Mallee Ningaui, is a tiny species of marsupial carnivore and a member of the family Dasyuridae...
(Ninguai yvonneae)
- Wongai Ningaui