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 = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
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. This dunnart 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 in Queensland, it possibly occurs in the Mitchell Plateau of Western Australia. The Prickly Acacia is a threat to its habitat as it kills native grasslands. Cultivation and introduced species also threatens this dasyurid'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 the IUCN. 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]