Little Long-tailed Dunnart

Taxobox
name = Little Long-tailed Dunnart
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Dasyuromorphia
familia = Dasyuridae
genus = "Sminthopsis"
species = "S. dolichura"
binomial = "Sminthopsis dolichura"
binomial_authority = (Kitchener, Stoddart & Henry, 1984)The Little Long-tailed Dunnart "(Sminthopsis dolichura)" is a dunnart that was, along with Gilbert's Dunnart, described in 1984. The length from snout to tail is 150-200 mm of which head to anus is 65-50 mm and tail 85-105 mm long. Hind foot size is 16-17 mm, ear length of 17-19 mm and with a weight of 10-20 g.

Distribution and habitat

There are two separate areas of habitation for this species, but no subspecies have been identified. The Western Australia distribution is in the northern Goldfield's and Geraldton hinterland, northwest coast, southwest coast and western plateau.The South Australian area includes the coastal areas of the Great Australian Bight on the Nullarbor Plain, Eyre Peninsula west of Port Augusta. Habitat the species prefers include dry sclerophyll, forest, semi-arid woodlands, mallee, (tall, tall open and low open) shrublands and open heath vegetation.

ocial organisation and breeding

The species is nocturnal with males having a large home range, an adaptation to exploiting various habitats from one season to another. Females breed as early as 5-8 months and then only between March and August. Males can breed at 4-5 months. The joeys are weaned during September-December or when 5 grams. The lifespan of females is approximately two years and males just over one year.

Diet

Primarily an insect eater, the Little Long-tailed Dunnart will also consume small reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

References

*
*MSW3 Groves|pages=34
*cite book|last=Menkhorst|first=P.|coauthors=Knight, F.|title=A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia|publisher=Oxford Press|year=2001|id=ISBN 978-0-19-550870-3

External links

* [http://www.westernwildlife.com.au/western/mammals/dolichura.htm Little Long-tailed Dunnart]
* [http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Dasyuromorphia/Dasyuridae/Sminthopsis/Sminthopsis-dolichura.html Pictures and facts about the Little long-tailed dunnart]