Aepyprymnus rufescens Skull Replica measures 3.2 inches. Aepyprymnus rufescens Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Cast of original California Academy of Sciences specimen. Known as Rufous Rat Kangaroo.
Rufous Rat Kangaroo, Rufous Bettong or Aepyprymnus agilis are small rodents of genus Dipodomys, are native to western North America. They are a small, jumping, rat-like marsupial native to eastern Australia.
It is the only species in the genus Aepyprymnus. The largest member of the potoroo/bettong family (Potoroidae), it is about the size of a rabbit.
The Aepyprymnus rufescens is active at night when it digs for plant roots and fungi, and like other marsupials it carries its young in a pouch. Though its range is reduced, the population is healthy and stable.
It is generally grey with a hint of reddish brown and its scientific name means “reddish high-rump”.
It was once thought of as a solitary, nocturnal animal, but recent observation indicates that the Rufous rat kangaroo may form loose, polygynous associations. It feeds mostly on tubers and fungi, but also on leaves and other vegetation.
The Aepyprymnus rufescens is distinguished by the ruffled and bristly hair of the pelage and rufous tint of the fur at the upper parts.
The hair across the back is predominantly grey, the rufous tinge more evident, and is interspersed with silvery hairs.
An indistinct stripe appears at the hip line. The underparts are also grey, although paler. The combined head and body length is 385 to 390 millimetres.
The Aepyprymnus rufescens tail may be from 340 to 390 mm in length, and excepting a white tip that may appear the color is overall grey-brown. The ears are comparatively long, 48 to 57 mm, with a triangular form.
The color of the ears is very dark at the outer side and pink at the interior, the fringe is lined with silver hairs. A hairless pink rim appears around the eye. The Aepyprymnus rufescens weight range is from 2.5 to 3.5 kilograms.
They thrive in grassy woodlands, coastal eucalypt forests, wet sclerophyll, and in low dry open woodlands with grassy understorey. All A. rufescens build conical-shaped nests that have one entrance.
Nests can be found in the hollows of fallen trees, under bushes, in grass clumps, or more rarely on open ground.
Aepyprymnus rufescens use materials such as grass, hay, straw, dry ferns, and fibrous vegetation to build their nests. They pick this material up with their forepaws and pass it down the body to the tail which places the material in the nest.
