The southern mulgara (Dasycercus archeri) is a newly described, potentially extinct, species of mulgara.[1] The species is named after Australian palaeontologist Michael Archer, who contributed to many Australian palaeontological and mammalian discoveries.
The species is very similar to the crest-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda), but differs in the morphology of its dentition. Externally, the Southern mulgara has a crested tail and 8 nipples, which had been previously used to differentiate the crest-tailed mulgara (D. cristicauda) and the brush-tailed mulgara (D. blythi).[2]
Based on subfossil remains and preserved museum specimens, it is believed that the Southern mulgara occurred commonly throughout the Nullarbor Plain, and Great Victoria Desert, through to the caves of the northern Swan coastal Plain.