The Musky Rat-kangaroo, Hypsiprymnodon moschatus, is described. Its present distribution and habitat are defined. An account is given of its diet and of its feeding, grooming, locomotory, nest-building, courtship and social behaviour. Earlier reports that two young may be reared simultaneously are confirmed. Attention is drawn to a number of unspecialised characters including the distribution of vibrissae, limb proportions, structure of the manus and pes, presence of a mobile hallux, the non-saltatory gait, presence of a vestigial lower second molar, and an unsacculated stomach. Although these characters indicate that Hypsiprymnodon is a ‘primitive’ macropod, it is concluded that there is such a close relationship between the Hypsiprymnodontinae and the Potoroinae that the subfamilial distinction is unwarranted, unless the macropods be elevated to a superfamily Macropodoidea, comprising the families Macropodidae and Potoroidae.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research-Article|
March 17 2014
A further description of the Musky Rat-Kangaroo, Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Ramsay, 1876 (Marsupialia, Potoroidae), with notes on its biology
P.M. Johnson;
P.M. Johnson
1
National Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Regional Centre, Pallarenda, Queensland 4810
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Strahan
R. Strahan
2
Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Search for other works by this author on:
Australian Zoologist (1982) 21 (1): 27–46.
Citation
P.M. Johnson, R. Strahan; A further description of the Musky Rat-Kangaroo, Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Ramsay, 1876 (Marsupialia, Potoroidae), with notes on its biology. Australian Zoologist 1 January 1982; 21 (1): 27–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.1982.002
Download citation file:

How do RZS NSW members access the full text papers?
If you are a current RZS NSW member (with publications), please access the full text of papers by visiting https://www.rzsnsw.org.au/member-centre/publications (you will be asked to log in to RZS NSW). Do not log in at the top of this current page for access.
Citing articles via
The discovery of the remains of the last Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
Robert N. Paddle<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Kathryn M. Medlock
A Catalogue of the Thylacine captured on film
Stephen R. Sleightholme<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Cameron R. Campbell
Professional kangaroo population control leads to better animal welfare, conservation outcomes and avoids waste
George R Wilson<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Melanie Edwards
A large-scale automated radio telemetry network for monitoring movements of terrestrial wildlife in Australia
Andrea S. Griffin<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Culum Brown<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Bradley K. Woodworth<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Guy-Anthony Ballard<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Stuart Blanch<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Hamish A. Campbell<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Tara L. Crewe<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Philip M. Hansbro<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Catherine A. Herbert<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Tim Hosking<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Bethany J. Hoye<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Brad Law<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Kellie Leigh<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Gabriel E. Machovsky-Capuska<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Thomas Rasmussen<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Paul G. McDonald<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Mick Roderick<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Chris Slade<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Stuart A. Mackenzie<span class='al-author-delim'>, </span>Philip D. Taylor