Desert bettong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert bettong |
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The Bettongia anhydra was a small marsupial that is now extinct. It belonged to a family of animals called potoroines, which are like tiny kangaroos. This animal used to live in Australia.
Discovering the Bettongia anhydra
Scientists study how living things are related. This is called taxonomy. The Bettongia anhydra was a special discovery.
In the 1930s, a skull was found. At first, scientists thought it was a type of woylie (Bettongia penicillata). Later, they thought it was the same as the boodie (Bettongia lesueur).
But in 1957, a scientist named Hedley Herbert Finlayson looked closely at the skull. He realized it was different! He described it as a brand new species.
This special skull came from a fresh animal found in 1933. It was discovered by Michael Terry near Lake Mackay in the Northern Territory of Australia. Scientists later used its bones and other clues to confirm it was a unique species.
What did the Bettongia anhydra look like?
The Bettongia anhydra was a type of bettong. Bettongs are small to medium-sized marsupials. They are usually active at night, which means they are nocturnal.
These animals loved to eat fungi, like mushrooms. This makes them fungivorous. The teeth and jaw of the Bettongia anhydra were similar to other bettongs and potoroos.
