Common planigale[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
Family: | Dasyuridae |
Genus: | Planigale |
Species: | P. maculata
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Binomial name | |
Planigale maculata (Gould, 1851)
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Common planigale range |
The common planigale (Planigale maculata), also known as the pygmy planigale or coastal planigale, is one of the small carnivorous marsupials known as "marsupial mice" found in Australia. There they fill a similar niche to the insectivores of other parts of the world.
The common planigale was first described by John Gould in 1851, using a specimen forwarded to England by the collector Frederick Strange.[3] It was originally described as Antechinus maculatus, and it was retained in the genus Antechinus until Mike Archer transferred it to Planigale in his 1976 revision of the latter genus. The species' scientific name means "spotted flat-weasel".[4]
Two subspecies are recognised:[1][4]