- Fat-tailed Dunnart
Taxobox
name = Fat-tailed Dunnart
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
subclassis =Marsupialia
ordo =Dasyuromorphia
familia =Dasyuridae
genus = "Sminthopsis "
species = ""'S. crassicaudata"
binomial = "Sminthopsis crassicaudata"
binomial_authority = (Gould, 1844)
range_
range_map_caption = Fat-tailed Dunnart rangeThe Fat Tailed Dunnart ("Sminthopsis crassicaudata") is a species of mouse-like
marsupial of theDasyuridae family, the family includes theLittle Red Kaluta ,quoll s, and theTasmanian Devil . It has an average body length of 60-90 mm with a tail of 45-70 mm. Ear length is 14-16 mm. Its weight varies between 10-20 grams, it is one of the smallest carnivorous marsupials. The tail becomes fat a few mm from the anus and right up to the tip of the tail.Distribution and habitat
The range of "S. crassicaudata" in Australia is in diverse habitats except for the
Kimberley region of Western Australia and northernNorthern Territory likeArnhem Land andKakadu National Park , but avoids theWannon andMallee scrub habitats in Victoria. In the northeast of Victoria, the species can also be found ingrass ywoodland s and samphire shrublands. The subspecies "S. c. crassicaudata" is in theEpping Forest National Park in Queensland. "S. c. ferruginea" is found aroundLake Eyre in South Australia (Finlayson, H.H. (1933)). "S. c. centralis" is found in Killalpannina (as Killalpanima, Lake Eyre East), SA.The habitats in which the species can be found include sparse grasslands, open shrublands and farmlands where there is considerable bare land. The impact of unimproved farming has been positive for this species as the type of habitat created is suitable to this
dunnart 's requirements, but intensive agriculture is seen as a negative factor for the species.ocial organisation and breeding
This species breeds from July to February, with the young in the pouch from July to April (Morton 1978b). Gestation is for 13 days and the young remain in the pouch for 70 days with litter size on average 7.5 with a 33% infant death rate. They generally have 2 litters per year with females not breeding for the first year. The average life span of the females is 18 months, and males 15 months.
Diet
The Fat-tailed Dunnart's diet includes insects such as beetles, spider larvae, small reptiles, and amphibians. It stores fat reserves in its carrot-shaped tail for times of food shortage.
References
*
*MSW3 Groves|pages=34
*cite book|title=Mammals of Victoria|first=Peter W.|last=Menkhorst|publisher=Oxford Press|year=1995|id=ISBN 0-19-553733-5External links
* [http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Dasyuromorphia/Dasyuridae/Sminthopsis/Sminthopsis-crassicaudata.html Fat-tailed dunnart]
* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor/mammals/species/sminthopsis_crassicaudata.htm Picture]
* [http://www.australian-aridlands-botanic-garden.org/general/mammals/m_spec/m_ftd.htm Mammals of Australia]
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=MARSUPIALIA;pstrTaxa=743;pstrChecklistMode=1 Australian Biological Resources Study]
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sminthopsis_crassicaudata.html?d= Animal Diversity Web page]
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