Genus of marsupials
The phascogales (members of the eponymous genus "Phascogale"), also known as wambengers or mousesacks, are carnivorous Australian marsupials of the family Dasyuridae. There are three species: the brush-tailed phascogale ("Phascogale tapoatafa"), the red-tailed phascogale ("P. calura"), and the northern brush-tailed phascogale ("P. pirata"). As with a number of dasyurid species, the males live for only one year, dying after a period of frenzied mating. The name "wambenger" comes from the Nyungar language. The term "Phascogale" was coined in 1824 by Coenraad Jacob Temminck in reference to the brush-tailed phascogale, and means "pouched weasel". All three species are listed as either Near Threatened or Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Phylogeny.
The following is a phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial genome sequences:
Species.
The genus consists of the following three species:
Life cycle.
Mating generally happens between May and July. All males die soon after mating. Females give birth to about 6 young ones about 30 days after mating. Phascogales do not have the true pouch that is found in most other marsupials . Instead, they form temporary folds of skin - sometimes called a "pseudo-pouch" around the mammary glands during pregnancy. Young stay in this pseudo-pouch area, nursing for about 7 weeks before being moved to a nest where they stay until they are weaned at about 20 weeks of age. Females live for about 3 years, and generally produce one litter.
References.
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