Conilurus

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Theria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Muroidea
Familia: Muridae
Subfamilia: Murinae
Genus: Conilurus
Species: C. penicillatus - †C. albipes - †C. capricornensis

Name

Conilurus Ogilby, 1838

References

* Conilurus on Mammal Species of the World.
Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2 Volume Set edited by Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder

Type species: Conylurus constructor Ogilby, 1838 (= Hapalotis albipes Lichtenstein, 1829)

The rabbit rats, genus Conilurus represent an unusual genus of Old World rats from Australia, New Guinea, and Melville Island.

Head and body are 16.5–20 cm. Tail length is 18-21.5 cm. The tail is haired and has a distinct tuft at the end. These nocturnal animals are found in habitats ranging from coastal areas, swamps, plains, and forests. They have been reported along the edge of oceanic surf, presumably feeding.

Young have been found to cling to one of the mother's four nipples while she forages. Gestation is 33–35 days.

Species

Genus Conilurus - rabbit rats

* White-footed Rabbit Rat, Conilurus albipes †
* Conilurus capricornensis †?[1]
* Brush-tailed Rabbit Rat, Conilurus penicillatus

References

* Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
* Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.

1. ^ Cramb, Jonathan; Scott Hocknull (2010). "New Quaternary records of Conilurus (Rodentia: Muridae) from eastern and northern Australia with the description of a new species". Zootaxa 2634: 41–56. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02634p056f.pdf.