Planigalinae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Planigalinae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Dasyuromorphia
Family:	Dasyuridae
Subfamily:	Planigalinae

The planigales and ningauis are super tiny marsupials from Australia. They are like mini-hunters! These small creatures are part of a bigger group called Dasyuromorphia, which includes other meat-eating marsupials like quolls and the Tasmanian devil. Even though they used to be grouped together in a subfamily called Planigalinae, scientists have learned more about them. Now, planigales and ningauis are placed in different groups within the Sminthopsinae subfamily.

There are 8 different kinds, or species, of these amazing animals, split into two main groups (genera). All of them are very small. The paucident planigale weighs just over 10 grams. The long-tailed planigale is even smaller, weighing only about 4.3 grams! That makes it the smallest marsupial in the world. Most planigales and ningauis weigh around 8 grams, which is about half the size of a regular mouse.

Where Do They Live?

Out of the 8 species, two live in the warm, tropical northern parts of Australia. The other five live in the dry or semi-dry central areas. Some planigales, like the common planigale, have been known for a long time. A scientist named John Gould first described the common planigale way back in 1851. But other species, like the paucident planigale and all three ningauis, were only discovered by scientists in the 1970s and 1980s!

What Do They Eat?

All 8 species are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. They are carnivores, so they hunt and eat other small creatures. Their diet usually includes insects, insect larvae (baby insects), insect eggs, small lizards, and even the young of small mammals. Even though they are tiny, they are very brave hunters! Some species often catch prey that is bigger than they are. The common planigale, for example, can even be found in the outer suburbs of big cities like Brisbane, but not much is known about them because they are so small and secretive.

Understanding Their Family Tree

For a long time, scientists didn't know much about how these tiny carnivorous marsupials were related to each other. But thanks to new ways of studying their bodies and genes, we now know that planigales and ningauis form a special group within the Dasyuromorphia order.

Here's a look at their family:

Family Dasyuridae

• Subfamily Dasyurinae: This group includes quolls, the Tasmanian devil, and others like the kowari and mulgara.
• Subfamily Phascogalinae: This group has phascogales and antechinuses.
• Subfamily Sminthopsinae: This group includes dunnarts and the kultarr.
• Genera of Planigales and Ningauis:
  • Genus Planigale (The Planigales)
    • Giles' planigale (Planigale gilesi)
    • Long-tailed planigale (Planigale ingrami)
    • Common planigale (Planigale maculata)
    • New Guinean planigale (Planigale novaeguineae)
    • Narrow-nosed planigale (Planigale tenuirostris)
  • Genus Ningaui (The Ningauis)
    • Wongai ningaui (Ninguai ridei)
    • Pilbara ningaui (Ninguai timealeyi)
    • Southern ningaui (Ninguai yvonneae)