Golden bandicoot
Golden bandicoot[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Peramelemorphia |
Family: | Peramelidae |
Genus: | Isoodon |
Species: | I. auratus
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Binomial name | |
Isoodon auratus (Ramsay, 1887)
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Subspecies | |
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Golden bandicoot range |
The golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus;
It was once found throughout much of northern, central and western Australia, into south-western
Taxonomy
Earlier studies have suggested that the golden bandicoot (I. auratus) is closely related to the
A third subspecies, I. a. arnhemensis has been recorded in Arnhem Land, NT, in the past,[5][3] from the 1930s to 1980s, but this is now thought to be I. a. auratus.[6]
I. obesulus and I. auratus appear to have been
Distribution
Range
The golden bandicoot was once found across most of northern, central and western Australia, as far as south-western New South Wales to the east.
The subspecies I. a. arnhemensis was recorded in Arnhem Land[5][3] from the 1930s to 1980s, but this is now thought to be I. a. auratus. After the population was restricted to Marchinbar Island, groups were translocated and populations have been established on Raragala and Guluwuru Islands, also in the Wessel chain.[6]
The largest golden bandicoot population lives on Barrow Island, because no cats or foxes have been introduced to the island,[8] and other populations exist on Middle, Marchinbar, Augustus Islands.[2] Small populations on mainland Australia are located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.[8] The golden bandicoot once lived all throughout Central Australia, but by 1992 it had been reduced to a small area in northwest Kimberly and Arnhem Land.[9] In 2000, it was assumed that the species was extinct on the mainland.[2]
It is also present in the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley.[10]
Habitat
The golden bandicoot lives in
Population numbers
Individuals have a home range between 12–35 ha (30–86 acres), and the largest golden bandicoot population is on Barrow Island with about 20,000 individuals.[8][2] In fact, it is the most common mammal on the island.[2] On Middle Island it is estimated that there are about 1,000 individuals, and on Marchinbar Island there are roughly 1,400 individuals.[2][11] On mainland Australia, populations are sparse, and most population declines have occurred there.
Physical characteristics
External anatomy
The golden bandicoot is the smallest of its genus, and is distinguished from the more common northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) by its much smaller size, golden colour and shape of its hairs, and its
flatter, more elongated head.
The golden bandicoot is quite rat-like in appearance due to its small body, hunched-over posture, and relatively long tail. The hind limbs are large and muscular compared to the short forelimbs. Each forefoot has three toes with flat claws, used for digging holes when hunting for prey. And, unlike most marsupials, the golden bandicoot has fused toes on its hind feet, forming a comb they use for grooming. All bandicoots in the genus Isoodon have short noses and small, rounded ears, and thus can be distinguished from most other bandicoots, which have longer noses and larger ears. Female golden bandicoots have eight
Physiology
Living in hot, semi-arid environments, the golden bandicoot is well adapted to keeping cool. Indeed, it is one of only two extant bandicoot species that are especially suited for arid environments, the other one being the
Behaviour
Foraging
The golden bandicoot is
Reproduction
Breeding occurs throughout the year and peaks during the wet season (December January) and the dry season (August).[5][14] Amongst marsupials, the golden bandicoot is known to have one of the highest reproductive rates, and it has one of the shortest gestation periods for mammals, only about 12 days.[9][14] There are about 2–3 young per litter, and they remain in the pouch of the mother for up to 8 weeks.[9][14] After this, there is little to no parental care, which allows the golden bandicoot to be such a prolific breeder.[14]
Threats
Competition
Several factors have contributed to the decline of golden bandicoot numbers throughout the century including introduced species, exotic predators, and loss of habitat. On Middle and Barrow Islands, competition with the introduced black rat (Rattus rattus) reduced golden bandicoot numbers significantly in the 1990s, but the black rat was successfully eradicated from these islands in 1993.[2][15] Since then golden bandicoot numbers have increased five-fold.[2][15] Additional competition comes from various rabbit species.[8][2]
Predation
Large birds are the primary, natural predator of the golden bandicoot, but many predatory species have been introduced within its range. Wild dogs were present on the Marchinbar until 2004 or 2005, when they were eradicated.
The greatest threat to the species has been, and remains, feral cats.[6][17][18]
Habitat alteration
Changes in fire regions have been cited as another major factor in the decline of the golden bandicoot.[8][2][9] Reduced groundcover due to fires makes the golden bandicoot more exposed to predation,[2] but it has been reported that the golden bandicoot prefers areas that have been burnt relatively recently, as these have fresh new vegetation close to the ground.[3]
Conservation
Status
With the last assessment done in 2012, the golden bandicoot was listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[2]
As of 2023[update] both subspecies are classed as vulnerable under the
Recovery plans 2003–2015
A national recovery plan for the golden bandicoot and the
- Form management arrangements between agencies, land managers, and land owners
- Form a multiple species recovery team to attack the issue of multiple species decline in northern Australia
- Monitor population trends
- Translocate golden bandicoots from Marchinbar Island to two other islands and follow up on said populations
- Identify the key components that affect critical weight range of tropical savannah mammals
- Develop educational materials to effectively communicate to stakeholders
- Inform and involve the community in recovery process
This recovery plan, adopted for this species on 11 April 2005, ceased to be in effect from 1 October 2015, and there is no recovery plan deemed necessary as of 2023[update]. Instead, there is an "approved Conservation Advice [which] is an effective, efficient, and responsive document to guide the implementation of priority management actions, mitigate key threats, and support the recovery of this
Translocation and other efforts
In the Northern Territory, both the government and the Gumurr Marthakal Rangers[b] are involved in a collaborative program to ensure the survival of the species. By 2021, many of the expired recovery plan objectives had been implemented. Ongoing priorities in the NT include:[6]
- to better safeguard the existing populations, by keeping Marchinbar Island cat-free; encouragement of traditional Aboriginal burning practices; and continuing monitoring of the populations
- to continue to manage translocated populations
- to investigate whether any animals still live on the mainland of north-east Arnhem Land
In June 2023, the Darran.gu Wulagura women's
In culture
The animal, known as Wan'kurra in the
It used to be referred to as "old people’s food" by some Aboriginal people, because of their slow pace.[14]
Footnotes
- ^ See #Taxonomy
- ^ Gumurr Marthakal is a ward in the East Arnhem Region.
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Burbidge, A. A.; Woinarski, J. (2016). "Isoodon auratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
Golden Bandicoot Isoodon auratus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2012. Isoodon auratus is listed as Vulnerable under criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v).
- ^ a b c d e f South Alligator River. "Golden bandicoot; Isoodon auratus." PDF from [Irm.nt.gov.au]
- ^ Zenger, Kyall R., Mark DB Eldridge, and Peter G. Johnston. "Phylogenetics, population structure and genetic diversity of the endangered southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in south-eastern Australia." Conservation Genetics 6.2 (2005): 193–204
- ^ a b c d e f g Survey guidelines for Australia's threatened mammals PDF from www.environment.gov.au › EPBC Act › Publications and resources
- ^ a b c d e f g "Golden bandicoot" (PDF). Threatened species of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Government. Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security. November 2021.
- Australian Zoologist. 27:36–37.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Golden Bandicoot". Animal Info. 5 January 2005.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "ARKive - Golden bandicoot videos, photos and facts - Isoodon auratus". Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ "Charnley River – Artesian Range: ACE". Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Palmer, Carol, R. Taylor, and Andrew A. Burbidge. Recovery Plan for the Golden Bandicoot Isoodon Auratus and Golden-backed Tree-rat Mesembriomys Macrurus, 2004–2009. Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, 2003.
- ^ Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 76.
- ^ a b c d Dickman, Chris R. Overview of the impacts of feral cats on Australian native fauna. Canberra: Australian Nature Conservation Agency, 1996
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Golden Bandicoot". Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ a b Morris, K. D. "The eradication of the black rat (Rattus rattus) on Barrow and adjacent islands off the north-west coast of Western Australia." Turning the tide: the eradication of invasive species 27 (2002): 219–225.
- ^ Larcombe, Alexander N., Philip C. Withers, and Andrew K. Krockenberger. "Metabolic and ventilatory physiology of the Barrow Island golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus barrowensis) and the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)." Journal of Thermal Biology, 33.6 (2008): 337–344.
- ^ Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Government. Retrieved 6 July 2023. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)licence.
- ^ Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Government. Retrieved 6 July 2023. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)licence.
- ^ Williams, Eddie (4 July 2023). "WA's new Indigenous women's ranger team help threatened golden bandicoot survive". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ Stimpson, Lara (18 August 2023). "Golden Bandicoots return to Central Australia after 56-year absence". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ French, Jackie; Dank, Debra. "Wan'kurra The Golden Bandicoot". Diane Lucas. Book reviews of Wan'kurra The Golden Bandicoot. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ Angel, Anita (3 February 2011). "(Nancy) Gaymala Yunupingu". Charles Darwin University. Retrieved 5 July 2022.