Taxonomic review of the genus <i>Dasycercus</i> (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) using modern and subfossil material; and the description of three new species

The genus <i>Dasycercus</i> (Dasyuridae: Dasyuromorphia) has a long and ongoing history of taxonomic uncertainty. Currently two species are recognized: <i>Dasycercus cristicauda</i> and <i>Dasycercus blythi</i>, with the previously named <i>Dasycercus hillieri</i> considered a junior synonym of <i>D. cristicauda</i>. This investigation integrates modern, historical and subfossil material from across Australia to provide the most comprehensive review of the genus to date. Cranial and dental morphological characters that enable phylogenetic and morphometric analysis of taxa are established. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of craniodental measurements, including from the type specimens of named taxa (<i>D. cristicauda</i>, <i>D. hillieri</i> and <i>D. blythi</i>), are used to assess the validity of each taxon. The results confirm the validity of <i>D. cristicauda</i> and <i>D. blythi</i> as species, but also reconfirm the validity of <i>D. hillieri</i>. As a result, much of the modern ‘<i>D. cristicauda</i>’ material is reassigned to <i>D. hillieri</i>. Three new taxa are proposed: <i>Dasycercus woolleyae</i> sp. nov., <i>Dasycercus archeri</i> sp. nov. and <i>Dasycercus marlowi</i> sp. nov. These six <i>Dasycercus</i> species are distributed across Australia’s arid zone and beyond. Based on prior investigations and the results of this taxonomic review, it is likely that only <i>D. hillieri</i> and <i>D. blythi</i> are extant. The identification of four likely extinct taxa marks the first recorded instance of modern extinction within the family Dasyuridae. <i>Jake Newman-Martin [</i>[e-mail]<i>], School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102 Australia;</i> <i>Kenny J. Travouillon [</i>[e-mail]<i>], Western Australian Museum, Collections and Research, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, WA, 6986 Australia;</i> <i>Natalie Warburton [</i>[e-mail]<i>], Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch Western Australia 6150 Australia;</i> <i>Milo Barham [</i>[e-mail]<i>], School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102 Australia;</i> <i>Alison J. Blyth [</i>[e-mail]<i>], School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102 Australia.</i>

狭足袋鼩属（*Dasycercus*，袋鼬科：袋鼬目）长期以来始终面临分类学不确定性的问题，且该状态迄今仍未得到彻底解决。目前该属被认可的物种有2种：*Dasycercus cristicauda*与*Dasycercus blythi*，此前命名的*Dasycercus hillieri*被视为*D. cristicauda*的同物异名。
本研究整合了全澳范围内的现生标本、历史馆藏标本与亚化石材料，对该属开展了迄今为止最为全面的分类学综述。研究确立了可用于类群系统发育与形态计量学分析的颅骨及牙齿形态特征。研究对颅齿测量数据（包括命名类群*D. cristicauda*、*D. hillieri*及*D. blythi*的正模标本数据）开展了线性判别分析（Linear Discriminant Analysis, 简称LDA）与主成分分析（Principal Component Analysis, 简称PCA），以评估各命名类群的分类有效性。
研究结果证实了*D. cristicauda*与*D. blythi*作为独立物种的有效性，同时重新确认了*D. hillieri*的分类地位。据此，大量现有的‘*D. cristicauda*’标本被重新划归为*D. hillieri*。
本研究还提出了3个新分类单元：*Dasycercus woolleyae* sp. nov.、*Dasycercus archeri* sp. nov. 及*Dasycercus marlowi* sp. nov.。目前已确认的6种狭足袋鼩属物种广泛分布于澳大利亚干旱区及周边区域。
基于既往研究与本次分类学综述的结果，目前仅存的狭足袋鼩属物种大概率为*D. hillieri*与*D. blythi*。本次研究识别出4个已灭绝的疑似分类单元，这是袋鼬科（Dasyuridae）内首次有记录的现代灭绝事件。
作者信息：杰克·纽曼-马丁（Jake Newman-Martin）[[e-mail]]，科廷大学地球与行星科学学院，澳大利亚西澳大利亚州本特利市肯特街，邮编6102；肯尼·J·特拉武伊永（Kenny J. Travouillon）[[e-mail]]，西澳大利亚博物馆馆藏与研究部，澳大利亚西澳大利亚州威尔士普直流锁柜49，邮编6986；娜塔莉·沃伯顿（Natalie Warburton）[[e-mail]]，默多克大学哈里·巴特勒研究所，澳大利亚西澳大利亚州南大道90号默多克校区，邮编6150；迈洛·巴哈姆（Milo Barham）[[e-mail]]，科廷大学地球与行星科学学院，澳大利亚西澳大利亚州本特利市肯特街，邮编6102；艾莉森·J·布莱思（Alison J. Blyth）[[e-mail]]，科廷大学地球与行星科学学院，澳大利亚西澳大利亚州本特利市肯特街，邮编6102。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集是对Dasycercus属（有袋类动物）进行综合分类学回顾的研究成果，基于现代和亚化石材料，使用形态测量和系统发育分析方法，确认了六个物种（包括三个新物种），并揭示了其中四个物种可能已灭绝，这是Dasyuridae科首次记录的现代灭绝实例。数据集发布于2023年，涵盖进化生物学和生态学等领域，适用于分类学和生物多样性研究。