Julia Creek dunnart

Julia Creek dunnart[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Sminthopsis
Species: S. douglasi
Binomial name
Sminthopsis douglasi
(Archer, 1979)
Julia Creek dunnart range

The Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi) is a marsupial with a buffy brown upperside and white underside. This dunnart has a body length of 100–135 mm with a tail of 60–105 mm to make a total length of 160–240 mm. Its weight is between 40 and 70 g. The length of the hind foot is 22–24 mm. The species has a dark brown triangle colour from above and below the eye with the point at the nose, and another dark stripe on top of the skull. A healthy dunnart has a carrot-shaped tail filled with fat stores.

Distribution and habitat

Typically found on 8000 km² in the Mitchel Grass downs of riparian grasslands, between Julia Creek and Richmond in Queensland, it possibly occurs in the Mitchell Plateau of Western Australia.[1] The prickly acacia is a threat to its habitat as it kills native grasslands. Cultivation and introduced species also threaten this dasyurid's habitat.

Social organization and breeding

During the dry season, it shelters in cracks in the ground; in the wet season it shelters under vegetation. This nocturnal animal doesn't drink often as all the water it needs is in the food. Gestation is for 13 to 16 days with an average of eight young born. The joeys are dependent on the mother for around 70 days. The age at which captive animals commence breeding ranges from 13 to 38 weeks (females) and 23 to 40 weeks (males). Breeding in wild populations is seasonal and occurs over a six-month period from August to March, which encompasses the hottest and wettest time of the year. Both females and males are known to be capable of breeding in more than one season and females have the potential to rear two litters in a season.[3] A 4 mm-long joey can breathe through its skin.

Diet

The diet of this species is made up of insects and small vertebrates.

Status

The Julia Creek dunnart is currently listed as a near threatened species by the IUCN.[2] This is likely due to the invasion of prickly acacia plants and introduced predators such as cats and foxes.

References

  1. 1 2 Groves, C.P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 34. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. 1 2 Burnett, S. & Winter, J. (2008). "Sminthopsis douglasi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T20290A9182739. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T20290A9182739.en. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Woolley, P. A. (2016). "The Julia Creek dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae): breeding of a threatened species in captivity and in wild populations". Australian Journal of Zoology. 63 (6): 411–423. doi:10.1071/ZO15056.
  • Menkhorst, Peter W. (1995). Mammals of Victoria. Oxford Press. ISBN 978-0-19-553733-8.
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