Chestnut Dunnart

Chestnut Dunnart
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Dasyuromorphia
Family:	Dasyuridae
Genus:	Sminthopsis
Species:	S. archeri
Binomial name
Sminthopsis archeri Van Dyck, 1986
Chestnut Dunnart range

The Chestnut Dunnart (Sminthopsis archeri) is a dunnart that was described by Van Dyck in 1986 and is named because of its chestnut colour in the upperparts of its body. The length from snout to tail being 167-210 mm of which head to anus is 85-105 mm and tail 82-105 mm long. Hind foot size is 17-20 mm, ear length of 17-21 mm and with a weight of 15-20 g.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Papua New Guinea and in Australia from the Cape York Peninsula, northern gulf and northeast coast around the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west coast of Queensland and south to Brisbane. Its habitats in Australia consist of tall stringybark woodlands and tall forests situated in red earth. In Papua New Guinea it is also found in savannah.

Social organisation and breeding

The species is little studied and not much information is knows on the behaviour, but it does breed during July-October when it is the dry season.

Diet

It most likely feeds on insects and or small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

References

1. ^ Helgen, K., Dickman, C., Lunde, D., Winter, J. & Burnett, S. (2008). Sminthopsis archeri. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is data deficient

• Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 33. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
• Menkhorst, P.; Knight, F. (2001). A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Press. ISBN 0-19-550870-X. 

External links

• Australian Biological Resources Study
• Sminthopsinae Taxonomy