Dunnart


Dunnart is a common name for species of the genus Sminthopsis, narrow-footed marsupials the size of a European mouse. They have a largely insectivorous diet.

Taxonomy

The genus name Sminthopsis was published by Oldfield Thomas in 1887, the author noting that the name Podabrus that had previously been used to describe the species was preoccupied as a genus of beetles.
The type species is Phascogale crassicaudata, published by John Gould in 1844.
There are 21 species, all of which occur in Australia and New Guinea:
The genus is referred to by their common name of dunnarts.

Description

A male dunnart's Y chromosome is the smallest known mammalian Y chromosome.