|
The desert rat-kangaroo (''Caloprymnus campestris''), also called the buff-nosed rat-kangaroo or the plains rat-kangaroo, is an extinct small hopping marsupial endemic to desert regions of Central Australia. It was discovered in the early 1840s and described by John Gould in London in 1843, on the basis of three specimens sent to him by George Grey, the governor of South Australia at the time. ==Description== It was formed like a kangaroo, but had the bulk of a small rabbit, and was described as being of a delicate and slender form. Its average body size was estimated to be about 254–282 mm in addition to a 307- to 377-mm-long tail. Its head was short, blunt, and wide, different from that of any kangaroo or wallaby〔 with a naked nose, short and rounded ears.〔 The color of its dense, straight, soft fur was appropriate for its desert surroundings. It was very pale yellowish brown, the hairs tipped with sooty brown; interspersed with the under fur were many long brownish white hairs. Its underbelly was described as white with very pale yellowish-brown feet and tail. A distinguishing feature of this species was the difference in size between the fore and hind limbs. Its fore limbs were quite delicate with bones weighing 1 gram, while its hind limbs are large with bones weighing 12 grams. This difference is related to saltation.〔http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Caloprymnus_campestris.html〕 Other characteristics related to hopping locomotion include a long, but rather thin tail. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Desert rat-kangaroo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|