Capricorn rabbit rat
The Capricorn rabbit rat (Conilurus capricornensis) is an extinct species of rodent from Queensland, Australia. It was described as a new species in 2010 on the basis of Pleistocene and Holocene dental remains. The specific name refers to the Capricorn Caves in Queensland, one of the locations where remains were unearthed.[2] Some of the subfossil material post-dates the European settlement of Australia, so the Capricorn rabbit rat is a modern extinction. Since there has not been a targeted survey for the Capricorn rabbit rat, there is a thin hope of its survival, although this is unlikely.[1]
| Capricorn rabbit rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Conilurus |
| Species: | †C. capricornensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Conilurus capricornensis Cramb & Hocknull, 2010 | |
Description
The Capricorn rabbit rat is larger than other rabbit rat (Conilurus) species. Also, unique dental features distinguish it from the white-footed rabbit rat (Conilurus albipes) and the brush-tailed rabbit rat (Conilurus penicillatus).[2]
See also
References
- Woinarski, J.; Burbidge, A.A. (2016). "Conilurus capricornensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T75927841A75927844. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T75927841A75927844.en. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- Cramb, Jonathan; Scott Hocknull (2010). "New Quaternary records of Conilurus (Rodentia: Muridae) from eastern and northern Australia with the description of a new species" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2634: 41–56. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2634.1.3.