Pig-footed bandicoot split into two species

[Logo7]

The pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus), a species of marsupial that went extinct by the 1950s, has up until now been believed to be one species. Other species have been described, such as C. occidentalis and C. castanotis, although both of these species are now believed to be synonyms of C. ecaudatus. However, a new study of museum specimens by researchers from the London Natural History Museum and the Western Australia Museum has determined that the specimens actually belong to two species. C. ecaudatus is given the new common name "Southern pig-footed bandicoot," while the new species has been given the name "Northern pig-footed bandicoot" (C. yirratji). In addition, two subspecies of C. ecaudatus have been described, C. e. ecaudatus and C. e. occidentalis. It is believed that both species went extinct due to the introduction of non-native predators like red foxes and feral cats, as well as habitat degradation due to livestock farming. Here is an artist's rendering of the two species (C. ecaudatus on the left and C. yirratji on the right), as well as a link to the paper describing the new species.


Paper (abstract only): https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4566.1.1

[Doug Watson]

The pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus), a species of marsupial that went extinct by the 1950s, has up until now been believed to be one species. Other species have been described, such as C. occidentalis and C. castanotis, although both of these species are now believed to be synonyms of C. ecaudatus. However, a new study of museum specimens by researchers from the London Natural History Museum and the Western Australia Museum has determined that the specimens actually belong to two species. C. ecaudatus is given the new common name "Southern pig-footed bandicoot," while the new species has been given the name "Northern pig-footed bandicoot" (C. yirratji). In addition, two subspecies of C. ecaudatus have been described, C. e. ecaudatus and C. e. occidentalis. It is believed that both species went extinct due to the introduction of non-native predators like red foxes and feral cats, as well as habitat degradation due to livestock farming. Here is an artist's rendering of the two species (C. ecaudatus on the left and C. yirratji on the right), as well as a link to the paper describing the new species.


Paper (abstract only): https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4566.1.1

Now I am doubly sad.    Thanks for pointing this out.

[Shonisaurus]

We need an extinct wild animal toy company to include this sadly missing species among its novelties. It is part of the history of the diversity of fauna on Earth, regardless of the drama involved in the extinction of a species.

[Logo7]

We need an extinct wild animal toy company to include this sadly missing species among its novelties. It is part of the history of the diversity of fauna on Earth, regardless of the drama involved in the extinction of a species.

There actually already is a toy of C. ecaudatus (though we still need one of C. yirratji). It's a part of the Yowies Forgotten Friends Series A toy-line. Here's a picture.

[Ravonium]

We need an extinct wild animal toy company to include this sadly missing species among its novelties. It is part of the history of the diversity of fauna on Earth, regardless of the drama involved in the extinction of a species.

There actually already is a toy of C. ecaudatus (though we still need one of C. yirratji). It's a part of the Yowies Forgotten Friends Series A toy-line. Here's a picture.

Sadly, it is long discontinued. Quite a shame, there were some other really unique avian and small (size wise) mammalian taxa in the same series too 

[Halichoeres]

I wonder how they got to the pouch after birth. Those little trotter-style forefeet don't look very good for grasping fur and climbing.