Scientific name:
Hypsiprymnodon moschatus

Natural spread:
Australia

the musk-rat-kangaroo is the single representative of an independent subfamily. These original Springbeutler have little similarity with the animals, for whom one calls kangaroos broadly; they remind of some Nasenbeutler sooner.

Shape Musk-rat-kangaroos have a head-torso-length between 23 and 34 cm. its tail is bare and beschuppt like a rat-tail. The hind legs are only little longer than the front-legs. At the rear-feet, they carry a big-toe as single kangaroos. it is well movable, cannot be compared the other like with a gripping-foot, however, and is without nail. The head is short with pointed muzzle. The ears are sharpened middle-long, bare and easy. Dense, soft fur covers the slim body. its color is oberseits powerfully reddish-gray, on the underside sallow. Males and females smell strongly of musk what led to its Artnamen. Musk-rat-kangaroos are Tagtiere.

Way of life One finds it usually in pairs or in the family-association with not yet adult young. they live in the rain-forests and the densely overgrown bush-terrain at seas and rivers in Australia's northeast. Usually, they move on all four. Already the lowest concern lets the shy animals immediately vanish in the thicket of the sub-growth. At fast escape, they rise on the hind legs and jump after type of the kangaroo.

Nutrition Musk-rat-kangaroos are omnivores. they look for insects, worms and snails, under leaves and bark-pieces, however, also roots and berries eat. they sit on that occasion on the hind legs and hold the food with the front-paws.