Long-tailed Dunnart Article Index for
Long-tailed
 

Information About

Long-tailed Dunnart




  Name Long-tailed Dunnart
  Status lc
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Mammal ia
  Subclassis Marsupialia
  Ordo Dasyuromorphia
  Familia Dasyuridae
  Genus '' Sminthopsis ''
  Species '''''S longicaudata''
  Binomial ''Sminthopsis longicaudata''
  Binomial Authority Spencer , 1909


Long-tailed Dunnart ''(Sminthopsis longicaudata)'' is an Australia n Dunnart that, like the Little Long-tailed Dunnart , has a tail longer than its body. It is also one of the larger dunnarts at a length from snout to tail of 260-306 mm of which head to anus is 80-96 mm and tail 180-210 mm long. Hind foot size is 18 mm, ear length of 21 mm and with a weight of 15-20 g.


DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

In Western Australia it is known from the Pilbara and eastern coast to the NE goldfields and Gibson Desert ( Young Range s) south to the Nullarbor Plain , to central Northern Territory and western South Australia . Its habitat includes Acacia , rocky Scree s with Hummock Grass and Shrub s, and tall open Shrubland and Woodland s.


SOCIAL ORGANISATION AND BREEDING

A Nocturnal species, this Marsupial has great agility for jumping. When breeding during October-November, it burrows a hole under logs and makes its nests out of grass. The litter is of up to 6 Joeys . It is locally considered to be endangered, but the IUCN Red List indicates that it is of least concern.


DIET

It eats Invertebrate s like Ants , Beetle s and Centipede s.


REFERENCES


  • Australian National Parks & Wildlife Service - Australian Endangered Species - mammals

  • Australian National Parks & Wildlife Service - Resource Kit: Endangered Species



EXTERNAL LINKS