A new marsupial species, part of what scientists describe as the world’s “cutest and fiercest” group of mammals, has been discovered in Australia. The newly identified species, named Planigale petrophila, is named after the rocky slopes of Kakadu National Park, where it was found.
Planigales are among the smallest marsupials on the planet. Seven species were previously known in Australia, with one found in Papua New Guinea. Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology recently announced the discovery in a study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
“Earlier genetic studies suggested that samples of Planigale ingrami and Planigale maculata might have been misclassified because they are difficult to distinguish, but they have different genetics,” said Linette Umbrello, an author of the study. “In this study, we used samples from museums across Australia, which proved to be an invaluable resource that allowed us to identify species we would never detect in the wild today.”
The researchers examined several planigale specimens to determine if distinct species had been incorrectly grouped together. They found three unique forms among the P ingrami specimens.
“We revived the name P subtilissima for planigales found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, which had been grouped under P ingrami but are actually a separate species,” Dr. Umbrello explained.
They also determined that the subspecies P ingrami brunnea was just part of P ingrami, so they merged it back into its original classification.
Additionally, they identified a completely new species called P petrophila.
“We’ve discovered a new species in one of Australia’s cutest and fiercest mammal groups, the planigales,” wrote Andrew Baker, another author of the study, in The Conversation.
Unlike other small mammals that primarily eat seeds or fruits, planigales are described as “fierce” for their size. They act like apex predators, actively stalking and hunting insects, spiders, centipedes, and other invertebrates.
These tiny creatures are small enough to fit in a human palm and weigh less than a couple of spoons of sugar. Despite their size, they often attack prey nearly as large as themselves, such as lizards, large crickets, and cockroaches.
“P petrophila is apparently rare among Australian planigales because only three specimens have been found so far, and it is known only from a small area of the sandstone plateau and rocky slopes in Kakadu National Park in western Arnhem Land,” Dr. Umbrello explained.
“P petrophila is unique in having a much longer tail than all other planigale species and is larger in all body and skull proportions compared to its closest genetic relatives.”
Scientists are calling for a full conservation assessment of the species in the region, given the alarming decline in other mammal species across northern Australia.
“This species is known from only three specimens found within 12 km, and it has not been encountered or re-collected since 2004,” Dr. Baker said.
“Correct classification and taxonomy are critical in conservation to ensure that management decisions and actions are applied appropriately. This information is important when determining an appropriate conservation status for this new mammal species.”
