Carpentarian dunnart
Sminthopsis butleri
States and territories: Western Australia (northern) and Northern Territory
Regions: Kalumburu in the northern Kimberley (last observed 1966) and Tiwi Islands (Melville & Bathurst Islands); all records within 20 km of coast (Woinarski et al. 1996).
Habitat: Tiwi - Bathurst Island: Primary habitat is tall open eucalypt forest comprising Darwin woollybutt Eucalyptus miniata, Darwin stringybark E. tetrodonta and/or Melville Island bloodwood Corymbia nesophila; also in lower abundances in woodland with other eucalypt species, melaleuca woodland and low scrub areas (Ward 2009).
Kalumburu (Archer 1979): Eucalyptus and grassland habitat where black soil country abuts onto sandplains; and flood debris.
Habit: Ground-dwelling.
Avg. Body Mass: Body mass ranges between 15 g and 30 g (Woolley 2008).
Activity pattern: Nocturnal.
Diet: Unknown, but probably invertebrates and perhaps small vertebrates (Woinarski 2002).
Breeding: Poorly known, with pouch young recorded in December and a very young individual found in January at Kalumburu (Woolley 2008).
Description
The Carpentarian dunnart is a small, grey coloured dunnart that has a thin and sparsely furred tail, and has a faint strip of darker fur down the back of its head (Woolley 2008). Approximately nine wild-caught specimens, which have come from ten locations within an area of less than 20 000 square kilometres, represent the total number of records of this rare species (Woinarski et al. 1996, Woinarski 2002).
The species was first recorded at Kalumburu in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. However, it has not been recorded in that region since 1966, despite a targeted survey in 1991 (Woinarski et al. 1996). A number of individuals have since been collected in the Tiwi Islands (Melville and Bathurst Islands) (Woinarski et al. 2000, Woolley 2008, Ward 2009). Specimens collected on Cape York that were previously thought to be the Carpentarian dunnart have now been re-classified as a distinct species, the chestnut dunnart Sminthopsis archeri.
Survey methods
On the basis of previous surveys, the following survey techniques are recommended to detect the presence of the Carpentarian dunnart in areas up to 5 hectares in size:
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daytime searches for potentially suitable habitat resources such as logs or rocks that may act as suitable shelter sites (Archer 1979), including actively searching under debris (description of the survey technique and recommended effort is outlined in Section 3.1)
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collection of predator scats, owl casts or remains, targeting predatory bird/mammal nests/dens (description of the survey technique and recommended effort is outlined in Section 3.2)
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spotlighting for active individuals
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consultation with local people, particularly investigating potential Indigenous knowledge of this species’ presence in an area
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pitfall trapping surveys conducted according to the survey protocol of Ward (2009).
Hair sampling device surveys are not recommended because the Carpentarian dunnart is not included among those species known to be distinguishable from hair samples (see Table 2, Section 3.3.7). Should this situation change, then hair sampling may provide an appropriate alternative detection technique.
Similar species in range
The Carpentarian dunnart occurs sympatrically with the red-cheeked dunnart Sminthopsis virginae, but can be distinguished by the lack of rufous cheek fur. Specimens collected on Cape York previously thought to be the Carpentarian dunnart are now classified as a distinct species, the chestnut dunnart Sminthopsis archeri. As there are very few specimens of the Carpentarian dunnart, taking of hair or tissue samples should be considered for future identification and/or molecular analysis, providing that appropriate permission and licensing has been granted by the relevant state or territory government organisations.
References
Archer, M. 1979. Two new species of Sminthopsis Thomas (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia) from northern Australia, S. butleri and S. douglasi. Australian Zoologist 20: 327 – 345.
Dickman, C.R., Haythornthwaite, A.S, McNaught, G.H, Mahon, P.S., Tamayo, B. and Letnic, M. 2001. Population dynamics of three species of dasyurid marsupials in arid central Australia: a 10-year study. Wildlife Research 28: 493 – 506.
Gates, J. 2001. The distribution and Ecology of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni. Endangered species Project Number 006499. Unpublished report for the Department of Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia.
NT DIPE. 2005. Guidelines for the Biodiversity Component of Environmental Impact Assessment. Prepared by the Biodiversity Conservation Division, for the NT Department of Infrastructure Planning & Environment (DIPE), N.T.
Ward, S. 2009. Survey protocol for Butler’s Dunnart Sminthopsis butleri. Unpublished report. Biodiversity North, Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport, Darwin.
Woinarski, J.C.Z. 2002. Threatened species of the Northern Territory: Butler’s Dunnart (Sminthopsis butleri). Threatened Species Fact Sheet. Department of Infrastructure and Environment.
Woinarski, J.C.Z. 2004. National Multi-species Recovery Plan for the Carpentarian Antechinus Pseudantechinus mimulus, Butler’s Dunnart Sminthopsis butleri and Northern Hopping-mouse Notomys aquilo, 2004 – 2009. Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure Planning and Environment, Darwin.
Woinarski, J.C.Z., Brennen, K., Hempel, C., Firth, R. and Watt, F. 2000. Biodiversity conservation on the Tiwi Islands: plants, vegetation types, and terrestrial vertebrates on Melville Island. Report to the Tiwi Land Council. (Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory: Darwin).
Woinarski, J.C.Z., Woolley, P. A. and Van Dyke, S. 1996. The distribution of the Dunnart Sminthopsis butleri. Australian Mammalogy 19: 27 – 29.
Woolley, P.A. 2008. Butler’s Dunnart Sminthopsis butleri. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’ (Ed. S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan) pp. 130 – 131. (Reed New Holland: Sydney).
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