The species of Dasycercus Peters, 1875 (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)

Abstract

Two species of Dasycercus (mulgaras) are recognised. They can be distinguished by the form of the tail, the number of upper premolar teeth in each jaw and, in the female, by the number of nipples in the pouch. Dasycercus blythi has a non-crested tail, two upper premolars (and a diastema between P2 and M1) and six nipples; D. cristicauda has a crested tail, three upper premolars (the third very small and sometimes present on one side only) and eight nipples. Both species have a wide geographic range in the arid zone of Australia, and overlapping distributions. The identity of specimens previously referred to D. cristicauda in the W. B. Spencer collection of Museum Victoria has been reassessed and both species found to be represented.