Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Infraordo: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Muroidea
Familia: Muridae
Subfamilia: Murinae
Genus: Zyzomys
Species: Zyzomys palatalis
Name
Zyzomys palatalis Kitchener, 1989: 361
Holotype: NTM U1388, adult ♀, body in alcohol with skull extracted.
Type locality: “Northern Territory, Echo Gorge, Wollogorang Station, 17°129S, 137°419E; altitude 180 m.”
Combinations
Zyzomys palatilis: Musser & Carleton, 2005: 1521 [incorrect subsequent spelling]
References
Primary references
Kitchener, D. 1989. Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from Northern Territory, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14(3): 331–373.
Links
Zyzomys palatalis 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.
Woinarski, J. & Burbidge, A.A. 2016. IUCN: Zyzomys palatalis (Critically Endangered). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T23327A22457211. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23327A22457211.en
Vernacular names
English: Carpentarian rock rat
Nederlands: Carpentarische rotsrat
The Carpentarian rock rat (Zyzomys palatalis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.[3] It is found only in Australia.
Taxonomy
The description of the species was published by Darrell Kitchener in 1989, emerging from a revision of the genus Zyzomys. The holotype was a pregnant female, collected at Wollogorang Station, in a deep ravine called Echo Gorge. The sandstone environment of the type location was an association of plants that included Eucalyptus dichromophloia. The specific epithet palatis is derived from Latin, and refers to the characteristic morphology of their palate.[2]
Description
It is a small and compact conilurine rodent. Its fur is grey-brown above and pale below. The tail is used to store fat at its base, making it carrot-shaped; the skin of the tail is fragile and easily damaged by handling. The average weight of individuals is about 120 g.
Distribution and habitat
It has a very limited range, being currently known from only five localities within the Wollogorang Station pastoral lease of the Northern Territory, close to the border with Queensland, near the Gulf of Carpentaria. Crucial habitat characteristics are rugged sandstone gorges with a cover of dry monsoon vine-thicket or tropical woodland, and with access to permanent water.
Conservation
The estimated size of the wild population of this species is less than 2000.[4] The main threat is from hot, late dry-season, fires. It is classified as being Critically Endangered. It is subject to conservation management, including a captive breeding program at the Territory Wildlife Park.[5]
References
Woinarski, J.; Burbidge, A.A. (2016). "Zyzomys palatalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23327A22457211. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23327A22457211.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
Kitchener, D.J. (1989). "Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from the Northern Territory, Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 14 (3): 331–373.
Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1521. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
"Australian endangered species: Carpentarian Rock-rat".
[1] Revised Recovery Plan for the Carpentarian Rock-Rat, Zyzomys palatalis (January 2003)
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