A Taxonomic Appraisal of the Genus Ningaui Archer (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), including Description of a New Species

Abstract

Phenetic and phylogenetic analyses of skull morphology for 14 geographic groups of Ningaui indicate the existence of three species. Within species, both classifications show decreasing morphological similarity with increasing separation of geographic groupings. Sexual dimorphism is marked within each species. Discriminant analysis allows accurate identification of individuals to a species by means of skull characters, although this is not possible from external body characters.