Although its name is prejudiced, the musky rat is not even a rat. The potoroid marsupial is also known as potoroo or “prejudiced rat”. The potoroid family also includes bets.
Physical Characteristics
Prejudice musky measures six and a half to eleven inches long and weighs thirteen to twenty-four ounces. Its skin is usually brown, but it can vary slightly. The skin on his head is gray in color. The hind feet have a large opposable toe, which is used for traction especially while running. Like a rabbit running on four legs. Males and females produce a scent down, which becomes more frequent and becomes more prevalent during breeding. The tail appears bare and brown. is covered with small scales. He is the only of his family to have five toes on his hind feet.
Characteristic behavior
The musky rat is a solitary creature living most of its life alone. Unlike most marsupials, especially smaller ones, this species is nocturnal. She sleeps at night and is active during the day.
Life cycle
A musky-prejudiced rat will reproduce all throughout the breeding season, even while feeding, as long as their food is plentiful. After the implantation of the pregnancy or the second pregnancy, it will be delayed until lactation ceases. The pouch life of a prejudiced musky rat is very short. In the wild two young are usually born per litter and two litters at a time. In captivity, moss rats are not known to breed more than one young at a time. The breeding season takes place in February to July. They have a few courtship days before marriage. courtship involves the male facing the female, then they stand erect and touch each other’s heads and necks. Sexual maturity is reached at one to eighteen months and the species remains for two or three years.
Diet
Mainly from the musky prejudiced food rat is found in the forest area. Its fruit diet falling from trees, figs, palm nuts, seeds and fungi. This species has one very rare habit among marsupials. He saves food, places it in different places around his territory.
He lives
The prejudiced musky lives in a small area in north-eastern Australia. It usually inhabits densely forested areas.
Conservation
Musky rat is of least concern on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) red list threatened species . This division is the lowest and means that the species is widespread, has no population and no threats, which will likely reduce its population in the foreseeable future.
References:
Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Animal World by David Burnie and Don E. Wilson
http://rainforest-australia.com/Musky-rat_Kangaroo_Information.htm#Reproduction% 20of% 20the% 20Musky-rat% 20Kangaroo
