Short-furred dasyure

The short-furred dasyure (Murexia longicaudata), also known as the short-haired marsupial mouse, is a member of the order Dasyuromorphia. It was once recognised as the only species in the genus Murexia,[1] but now five species are recognised.[3][4] It lives in Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Short-furred dasyure[1]
Preserved specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Subfamily: Dasyurinae
Tribe: Phascogalini
Genus: Murexia
Species:
M. longicaudata
Binomial name
Murexia longicaudata
(Schlegel, 1866)
Short-furred dasyure range
(blue — native, red — introduced)

Description

Males weigh 114–434g, while the much smaller females only weigh 57–88g. Its fur is a dull grayish brown on top, and its belly is a light beige. Its long, sparsely haired tail has a few long hairs at the tip.

Habitat and Behaviour

The short-furred dasyure inhabits forests of all types from lowlands to elevations of 2,200 m. It typically nests high in the canopy, but may also shelter on the ground. Females can mate all year round. Up to four young are born per litter, which grow up in the mother's pouch.

Conservation Status

Its population is considered stable, so the species is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.

Systematics

The short-furred dasyure used to form the genus Murexia together with the broard-striped dasyure. In 2005, Colin Groves divided the genus Murexia into two monotypic genera, Murexia for the short-furred dasyure and Paramurexia for the broad-striped dasyure, based on cladistic analyses. However, genetic studies continue to support an aggregation of both species in the genus Murexia.

References
  1. Groves, C.P. (2005). "Order Dasyuromorphia". 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. 31. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Woolley, P.; Leary, T.; Seri, L.; Wright, D.; Hamilton, S.; Helgen, K.; Singadan, R.; Menzies, J.; Allison, A.; James, R.; Dickman, C.; Lunde, D.; Aplin, K. (2016). "Murexia longicaudata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13930A21943259. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13930A21943259.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. "Murexia". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. "Murexia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 23 July 2020.


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