Kangaroo Island dunnart
Kangaroo Island dunnart | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
Family: | Dasyuridae |
Genus: | Sminthopsis |
Species: | S. aitkeni
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Binomial name | |
Sminthopsis aitkeni | |
Kangaroo Island Dunnart range |
The Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis aitkeni) is a dark sooty-grey coloured dunnart species first described in 1969, with paler underparts of its body. It has an average body length of 170–198 mm, a snout to anus length of 80–93 mm, a tail measurement of 90–105 mm, a hind foot of 17.5 mm, ear length of 18 mm and a weight of 20–25 grams. The thin tail is also gray, but lighter on the bottom. The tail is longer than the body. Kangaroo Island dunnarts are dimorphic, with males larger than females.
The Kangaroo Island dunnart is listed as
Distribution and habitat
This
Diet
The Kangaroo Island dunnart is
Social organization and breeding
Little is known of the Kangaroo Island dunnarts' behaviour. However, they are believed to be
Conservation
The Kangaroo Island dunnart is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] The Australian government first developed a recovery plan in 2011.[5] As recently as the early 2000s, the wildlife research community was uncertain as to whether the species population in the wild was actually so low, or whether they were just particularly well concealed.[6] Before the 2019–2020 bushfires, it was believed that there were fewer than 500 individuals.
The Kangaroo Island dunnart is believed to have had a range of the entire island at one time. Today, it has only been found on six sites on the western portion of Kangaroo Island. The population decrease has been attributed to several causes. Habitat loss is believed to be a primary cause. Although no clear habitat preference has been identified, Kangaroo Island dunnarts seem to be dependent on some low vegetation. The eastern portion of Kangaroo Island has been largely converted from the natural habitat for agricultural and grazing purposes. About 50% of Kangaroo Island's natural habitat has been cleared and Kangaroo Island dunnarts have not been found in the cleared regions. Also, tree dieback caused by
Kangaroo Island dunnart populations are considered particularly vulnerable due to their small range, since a single event can negatively affect a large proportion of the population. Forest fire is a major concern and the major fires in 2019–2020 destroyed much of their remaining habitat.[7] In May 2019, months prior to the start of the 2019–2020 bushfires, a workshop on the status of the dunnart was held on Kangaroo Island that included government representatives as well as scientists and landowners. The minutes from that meeting provided considerable information on the Kangaroo Island dunnart's status prior to the bushfires.[8] The population was devastated by the bushfires, which likely wiped out a majority of the individuals; however, dunnarts have still been sighted in burnt and unburnt areas following the fires, raising hopes for recovery.[4][9]
References
- ^ a b van Weenen, J. (2008). "Sminthopsis aitkeni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as critically endangered
- ^ Kitchener, D. J.; Stoddart, J.; Henry, J. (1984). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Sminthopsis murina Complex (Marsupialia, Dasyuridae) in Australia, including Descriptions of Four New Species" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 11 (3): 201–248. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020. Alt URL
- ^ Water (DEW), Department for Environment and (12 June 2019). "Kangaroo Island dunnart". www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Kangaroo Island wildlife group 'amazed' at post-fire find". NewsComAu. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Gates, J. A. (July 2011). "Recovery plan for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis aitkeni) (30pp)" (PDF). www.environment.gov.au/. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of South Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020. (3-paragraph summary; archive)
- ^ Gates, J. A. (5 April 2006). "Threatened Species – The Kangaroo Island Dunnart – Rare or Elusive?". www.denr.sa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ Readfearn, Graham (6 January 2020). "Kangaroo Island bushfires: grave fears for unique wildlife after estimated 25,000 koalas killed". www.theguardian.com/. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ "Minutes from the Kangaroo Island dunnart workshop Monday 27-May-2019 (50pp)" (PDF). www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au. May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020. Alt URL NOTE: The (original) link auto-downloads file to local device.
- ^ "Rare critter find described as 'the best news all year'". www.abc.net.au. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
External links
- Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. (2005). Sminthopsis aitkeni – Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-19-550870-X. Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2016.
- Menkhorst, P.; Knight, F. (2001). A field guide to the mammals of Australia, 1st Edition. Oxford Press. p. 68. ISBN 0-19-550870-X.
- van Weenan, J. (2014). Sminthopsis aitkeni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- "Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis aitkeni)". www.australianfauna.com. 6 August 2004. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- "Kangaroo Island dunnart, ANZLIC-compliant metadata description (for wildlife data collected in the field)". www.asdd.sa.gov.au. Kingscote, South Australia: Department for Environment and Heritage. 8 October 2001. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- Gates, Jody A. (October 2001). The distribution and ecology of the Kangaroo Island dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni (Final Report) (PDF). www.environment.sa.gov.au (Report). National Parks and Wildlife South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
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