- Julia Creek Dunnart
Taxobox
name = Julia Creek DunnartMSW3 Groves|pages=34|id=10800093]
status = NT
status_system = iucn3.1
trend = down
status_ref = IUCN2007 | assessors = Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group | year = 1996 | title = Sminthopsis douglasi | id = 20290 | downloaded =2008-07-02 ]
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
infraclassis =Marsupialia
ordo =Dasyuromorphia
familia =Dasyuridae
genus = "Sminthopsis "
species = ""'S. douglasi "
binomial = "Sminthopsis douglasi"
binomial_authority = (Archer, 1979)
range_
range_map_caption =The Julia Creek Dunnart ("Sminthopsis douglasi") is a
marsupial with a large buffy brown upperside and white underside. Thisdunnart has a body length of 100-135mm with a tail of 60-105mm to make a total length of between 160-240mm. Its weight is between 40-70g. The length of the hind foot is between 22-24mm. The species has a dark brown triangle colour from above and below the eye with the point at the nose, and another dark stripe on top of the skull. A healthy dunnart has a carrot shaped tail filled with fat stores.Distribution and habitat
Typically found on 8000 km² in the Mitchel Grass downs of riparian grassland's, between
Julia Creek and Richmond inQueensland , it possibly occurs in theMitchell Plateau ofWestern Australia . ThePrickly Acacia is a threat to its habitat as it kills native grasslands. Cultivation and introduced species also threatens thisdasyurid 's habitat.ocial organisation and breeding
During the dry season, it shelters in cracks in the ground; in the wet season it shelters under vegetation. This
nocturnal animal doesn't drink often as all the water it needs is in the food. Gestation is for 12 days with an average of 8 young born. Males are independent in 210 days and females in 168 days. A 4mm long joey can breath through its skin.Diet
Insects and small vertebrates make up the majority of this species diet.
tatus
The Julia Creek Dunnart is currently listed as an
near threatened species by theIUCN . This is likely due to the invasion of prickly acacia plants and introduced predators such as cats and foxes.References
*cite book|title=Mammals of Victoria|first=Peter W.|last=Menkhorst|publisher=Oxford Press|year=1995|id=ISBN 0-19-553733-5
External links
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tsd05julia-creek-dunnart.html Julia Creek Dunnart Sminthopsis douglasi]
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=MARSUPIALIA;pstrTaxa=749;pstrChecklistMode=1 Australian Biological Resources Study]
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