Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Ordo: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Metatheria
Cohort: Marsupialia
Ordo: Dasyuromorphia
Familia: Dasyuridae
Subfamilia: Sminthopsinae
Tribus: Sminthopsini
Genus: Sminthopsis
Species: Sminthopsis virginiae
Subspecies: S. v. nitela – S. v. rufigenis
Name
Sminthopsis virginiae (de Tarragon, 1847)
Type locality: not given (Australia, Queensland, Herbert Vale (Archer, 1981))
Vernacular names
español: Ratón marsupial de mejillas rojas
Dunnart de mejillas rojas
References
Sminthopsis virginiae in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Rev. Zool. Paris, p. 177.
Wilson, D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (eds.) 2005. Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. 2 volumes. 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. Reference page.
The red-cheeked dunnart (Sminthopsis virginiae) is so called because of the distinctive red hair on its cheek. It is an Australasian marsupial. Its total length is 167–270 mm; its average body length is 80–135 mm with a tail of 87–135 mm. Ear length is 12–13 mm. Its weight varies between 18 and 75 grams. Its tail is thin and pale pink.
Distribution and habitat
The red-cheeked dunnart is distributed in Australia and New Guinea. The nominate subspecies S. v. virginiae occurs in the Queensland around the North Gulf, NE coasts, Mackay to Cape York. Subspecies S. v. nitela inhabits the Kimberley's to the top of Northern Territory. Habitat includes woodlands, open rocky forests, savannah grasslands, swamps, soaks and margins of tropical forests.
Social organisation and breeding
The behaviour of the red-cheecked dunnart, like most Sminthopsis species, is not well known. They breed from October to March. Young are gestated for 15 days and weaned at 65–70 days with maturity by 4–6 months.
Diet
Its typical diet includes mainly small reptiles.
Subspecies
There are three recognised subspecies of the red-cheeked dunnart:[1]
S. v. virginiae, found in Australia
S. v. nitela, found in Australia
S. v. rufigenis, found in New Guinea
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. 36. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
Helgen, K.; Dickman, C.; Lunde, D.; Burnett, S.; Woinarski, J.; Woolley, P. (2016). "Sminthopsis virginiae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T40549A21948773. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40549A21948773.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
Menkhorst, P.; Knight, F. (2001). A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Press. ISBN 0-19-550870-X.
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