- Long-tailed Dunnart
Taxobox
name = Long-tailed Dunnart
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
infraclassis =Marsupialia
ordo =Dasyuromorphia
familia =Dasyuridae
genus = "Sminthopsis "
species = ""'S. longicaudata"
binomial = "Sminthopsis longicaudata"
binomial_authority = Spencer, 1909Long-tailed Dunnart "(Sminthopsis longicaudata)" is an
Australia ndunnart that, like theLittle 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 andGibson desert (Young Range s) south to theNullarbor Plain , to centralNorthern Territory and westernSouth Australia . Its habitat includesAcacia , rockyscree s with hummock grass andshrub s, and tall openshrubland andwoodland s.ocial organisation and breeding
A
nocturnal species, thismarsupial 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 theIUCN Red List indicates that it is of least concern.Diet
It eats
invertebrate s likeants ,beetle s andcentipede s.References
*
*MSW3 Groves|pages=35
*Australian National Parks & Wildlife Service - Australian Endangered Species - mammals
*Australian National Parks & Wildlife Service - Resource Kit: Endangered SpeciesExternal links
* [http://www.schools.nt.edu.au/howardsp/archive/Endangered/dunnart.htm Long Tailed Dunnart by Matthew]
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=MARSUPIALIA;pstrTaxa=768;pstrChecklistMode=1 Australian Biological Resources Study]
* [http://www.melindaperrin.com/gallery/popup_image.php?pID=19 Long-tailed Dunnart Greeting Card]
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sminthopsis_longicaudata.html Sminthopsis longicaudata (long-tailed dunnart)]
* [http://www.ipe.nt.gov.au/news/2002/10/threatened/mammals/long_tailed_dunnart_vu.pdf Northern Territory]
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