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The musky rat-kangaroo (''Hypsiprymnodon moschatus'') is a marsupial species found only in the rainforests of northeast Australia. Although some scientists place this species as a subfamily (Hypsiprymnodontinae) of the family Potoroidae, the most recent classification places it in the family Hypsiprymnodontidae with prehistoric rat-kangaroos. The generic name combines the Ancient Greek ' (‘high’), ' ( ‘hindmost’), and ' (‘teeth’).〔 Unabridged 〕 Its specific name, ラテン語:''moschātus'', is scientific Latin for ‘musk’. It is the smallest macropod that is quadrupedal and only diurnal. The musky rat-kangaroo is about 21 to 34 cm long with a 6.5- to 12.3-cm-log hairless tail, weighs between 332 and 680 g,〔Nowak, Ronald M. (2005) ''Walker's Marsupials of the World''. Baltimore, USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 149-150. ISBN 0-8018-8222-2.〕 and eats fallen fruit and large seeds, as well as small invertebrates. 〔McKay, G. (Ed.). (1999). ''Mammals'' (p. 60). San Francisco: Weldon Owen Inc. ISBN 1-875137-59-9〕 It moves by extending its body and then bringing both of its hind legs forward, and uses an opposable digit on the hind foot to climb trees.〔 ==Living fossil== The rat-kangaroo has a number of unusual traits that are seen as linking it to more primitive marsupial ancestors. For example, it has reptile-like scales on its feet and tail, engages in a more primitive hopping behavior than most of its kangaroo cousins, and 5 toes on each foot. 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「Musky rat-kangaroo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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