Rory Cooper's false antechinus

Rory Cooper's false antechinus (Pseudantechinus roryi), also known as the tan false antechinus and the tan pseudantechinus, is a recently named^[3] species of small carnivorous marsupial which inhabits rocky outcrops in Western Australia. Nothing is known of its behaviour but it is expected that this will be similar to other members of the false antechinus genus.^[4] A study published in 2017 found no support for separation as a new species of Pseudantechinus, and the name was proposed to be synonymous with the previously described Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis.

Rory Cooper's false antechinus[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Dasyuromorphia
Family:	Dasyuridae
Genus:	Pseudantechinus
Species:	P. roryi
Binomial name
Pseudantechinus roryi Cooper, Aplin & Adams, 2000
Rory Cooper's false antechinus range

Rory Cooper's false antechinus has been found from the Pilbara into the Great Sandy and Gibson Deserts. It is possible that false antechinuses found on Barrow Island also belong to this species. It differs from other members of its genus in its reddish-brown colouring; the typical colouring of a false antechinus is grey-brown.^[4]

An analysis of specimens in a comparison of Pseudantechinus phylogenies, based on evidence of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, found no support for separation from the species Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis.^[5]

References

1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 28. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
2. Burbidge, A., Cooper, N. & Morris, K. 2016. Pseudantechinus roryi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T136620A21945749. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136620A21945749.en.
3. Cooper, N. K.; Aplin, K. P.; Adams, M. (2000). "New species of false antechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) from the Pilbara region, Western Australia". Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 20: 115–136.
4. Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 252.
5. Umbrello, L.S.; Woolley, P.A.; Westerman, M. (2017). "Species relationships in the dasyurid marsupial genus Pseudantechinus (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae): a re-examination of the taxonomic status of Pseudantechinus roryi". Australian Journal of Zoology. 65 (4): 240. doi:10.1071/ZO17059. S2CID 90114388.