Musky rat-kangaroo

Musky Rat-kangaroo
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Diprotodontia
Suborder:	Macropodiformes
Family:	Hypsiprymnodontidae
Genus:	Hypsiprymnodon; Ramsay, 1876
Species:	H. moschatus
Binomial name
	Hypsiprymnodon moschatus; Ramsay, 1876

The Musky Rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) is a rat-sized marsupial species found in the rainforests of New Guinea and northeast Australia. Although some scientists place this species as a subfamily (Hypsiprymnodontinae) of the family Potoroidae, the most recent classification^[1] places in the family Hypsiprymnodontidae with prehistoric rat-kangaroos. It is the smallest macropod that is quadrupedal and only diurnal. The Musky Rat-kangaroo is approximately 23 cm long, and eats fallen fruit as well as small invertebrates.

It moves by extending its forelegs and then bringing both of its hind legs forward.

The mothers have two to three babies, who stay in her pouch for about 21 weeks.

References

^ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 56. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
^ Template:IUCN2006

External links

This article about a marsupial is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[MSW3-1] Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 56. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.

[IUCN-2] Template:IUCN2006

[1]

[2]