Dibbler
Encyclopedia
Dibbler is the common name for Parantechinus apicalis, an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia
and some offshore islands. It is a member of the Dasyuromorphia
order
, and the only member of the genus
, Parantechinus. The Dibbler is a small, carnivorous, nocturnal, with speckled fur
that is white around the eyes.
, bird
s and lizard
s, as well as insects and other invertebrates. The breeding season for the species is March–April.
The Dibbler is found in Southwestern Western Australia
, It is also found on Boullanger Island
and Whitlock Island and Escape Island off Jurien Bay
., some national parks/reserves, including Fitzgerald River National Park
, Peniup Creek Reserve
(where it was re-introduced) and at the Stirling Range National Park
(where it was re-introduced). Dibblers weigh about 40–100 grams (1.4–3.6 oz) and eat insect
s, small reptile
s, and nectar
. The Dibbler is a solitary, mostly nocturnal species.
The Dibblers habitat is an unburnt vegetation area with a thick litter layer and sandy soils. They can be found sleeping in hollow logs and caves during the day.
The two main locations where Dibblers live are Whitlock and Boullanger, which are two little islands just off Jurien Bay
. They have also been recorded at Torndirrup Peninsula
south of Albany
. Specimens have been obtained by traps located on Banksia attenuata
.
-like (animal)". The specific epithet, apicalis, means "pointed". This genus formerly included the Sandstone Dibbler
, now placed in the genus Pseudantechinus.
The genus Parantechinus contains only the single species, Parantechinus apicalis, the Dibbler. It was first described in 1842 by John Edward Gray
, who placed it in the genus Phascogale
. He identified the specimen as being Australasian in origin. The genus Parantechinus was created for the species in 1947 by George Henry Hamilton Tate
. The species was also assigned to the genus Antechinus
, before being split to own genus. There are various arrangements of the genera in this section of Dasyuridae
family, many of which are supported by molecular systematics, and their relationship remains unresolved.
In the Dibbler Recovery Plan, Senior DEC scientist, Dr. Tony Friend notes
A number of common names derive from previous systematic arrangements. John Gould
gave several names from the Nyoongar/Noongar
language; Marn-dern and Wy-a-lung are from northern areas, Dib-bler is from the dialect spoken in the King George Sound
region. The practice of restoring traditional names to marsupial species has conserved this common name. Gould referred to the species as the Freckled Antechinus, and it has also been known as the Speckled Marsupial Mouse.
The online edition of Mammal Species of the World
gave the name Southern dibbler in 2009. A species known as the Northern (or Sandstone
) Dibbler, Pseudantechinus bilarni, is found in the Northern Territory
. This species has been distinguished by the name Southern Dibbler, however this name is given in The Mammals of Australia (2008), the formative guide for Australian mammal nomenclature worldwide.
after a gap of 80 years. It remains an endangered species.
The Perth Zoo
in Western Australia operates a conservation project for the Dibbler which is helpful in its survival and breeding, and along with the Department of Environment and Conservation have helped to breed and release more dibblers into the wild.
In the early 19th century, dibblers were widely distributed across Western Australia
. By 1884, they were declared extinct, but some were found on the southern coast of Western Australia in 1967. They are threatened by habitat loss (land clearing, forest fires) and predators. Their predators are mainly feral foxes
and feral cats
.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and some offshore islands. It is a member of the Dasyuromorphia
Dasyuromorphia
The order Dasyuromorphia comprises most of the Australian carnivorous marsupials, including quolls, dunnarts, the numbat, the Tasmanian devil, and the recently extinct thylacine...
order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
, and the only member of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Parantechinus. The Dibbler is a small, carnivorous, nocturnal, with speckled fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
that is white around the eyes.
Description
The Dibbler is 10–16 cm long with a 7.5-12.0 cm tail; it weighs 40-125g. The distinctive features of this dasyurid include a white eye-ring, gray-brown fur flecked with white hairs, and a short tapering tail. It has strong jaws and large canine teeth for killing prey, which include small vertebrates such as miceMICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
, bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s and lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s, as well as insects and other invertebrates. The breeding season for the species is March–April.
The Dibbler is found in Southwestern Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, It is also found on Boullanger Island
Boullanger Island
Boullanger Island lies off the coast of Western Australia and covers an area of about 35 hectares. The nearest settlement is the mainland town of Jurien Bay....
and Whitlock Island and Escape Island off Jurien Bay
Jurien Bay, Western Australia
-Demographics:At the ABS 2006 census, Jurien Bay had a population of 1,175, which represented over one-third of the total population of the Shire of Dandaragan...
., some national parks/reserves, including Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park is a national park in Western Australia , southeast of Perth, in the Shire of Ravensthorpe and the Shire of Jerramungup....
, Peniup Creek Reserve
Peniup Creek Reserve
Peniup Creek Reserve is a 24.09 km2 nature reserve in south-west Western Australia. It is owned and managed by Bush Heritage Australia , by which it was purchased jointly with Greening Australia in 2007, and forms part of the project, in which BHA is a partner.-Flora and fauna:The reserve...
(where it was re-introduced) and at the Stirling Range National Park
Stirling Range National Park
Stirling Range National Park is a national park in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, approximately 337 km south-east of Perth.-Description:...
(where it was re-introduced). Dibblers weigh about 40–100 grams (1.4–3.6 oz) and eat insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, small reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s, and nectar
Nectar source
A nectar source is a flowering plant that produces nectar as part of its reproductive strategy. These plants create nectar, which attract pollinating insects and sometimes other animals such as birds....
. The Dibbler is a solitary, mostly nocturnal species.
The Dibblers habitat is an unburnt vegetation area with a thick litter layer and sandy soils. They can be found sleeping in hollow logs and caves during the day.
The two main locations where Dibblers live are Whitlock and Boullanger, which are two little islands just off Jurien Bay
Jurien Bay, Western Australia
-Demographics:At the ABS 2006 census, Jurien Bay had a population of 1,175, which represented over one-third of the total population of the Shire of Dandaragan...
. They have also been recorded at Torndirrup Peninsula
Torndirrup National Park
Torndirrup National Park is a national park in the Great Southern region of Western Australia , southeast of Perth and south of Albany. Torndirrup National Park has many impressive rock formations on the coast. These include the Gap, Natural Bridge and the Blowholes all shaped from the local...
south of Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
. Specimens have been obtained by traps located on Banksia attenuata
Banksia attenuata
Banksia attenuata, commonly known as the candlestick banksia or slender banksia, is a species of plant in the proteaceae family. Commonly a tree, it reaches 10 m high, but is often a shrub in dryer areas 0.4 to 2 m high...
.
Classification
The Dibbler is the only member of its genus, Parantechinus, which indicates that it is an "antechinusAntechinus
Antechinus is a genus of dasyurid marsupial that is indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. The majority of Antechinus species occur in Australia and only two species have been described in New Guinea...
-like (animal)". The specific epithet, apicalis, means "pointed". This genus formerly included the Sandstone Dibbler
Sandstone Dibbler
The Sandstone False Antechinus, Pseudantechinus bilarni, also known as the Sandstone Pseudantechinus, the Sandstone Antechinus, the Sandstone Dibbler, Harney's Antechinus and the Northern Dibbler, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial, which has a patchy distribution in Australia's Northern...
, now placed in the genus Pseudantechinus.
The genus Parantechinus contains only the single species, Parantechinus apicalis, the Dibbler. It was first described in 1842 by John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray
John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, who placed it in the genus Phascogale
Phascogale
The Phascogales , also known as Wambengers, are carnivorous Australian marsupials of the family Dasyuridae. There are two species: the Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Red-tailed Phascogale...
. He identified the specimen as being Australasian in origin. The genus Parantechinus was created for the species in 1947 by George Henry Hamilton Tate
George Henry Hamilton Tate
George Henry Hamilton Tate was an English-born American zoologist, who worked as a mammalogist for the American Museum of Natural History in New York....
. The species was also assigned to the genus Antechinus
Antechinus
Antechinus is a genus of dasyurid marsupial that is indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. The majority of Antechinus species occur in Australia and only two species have been described in New Guinea...
, before being split to own genus. There are various arrangements of the genera in this section of Dasyuridae
Dasyuridae
Dasyuridae is a family of marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, including 61 species divided into 15 genera. Many are small and mouse-like, giving them the misnomer marsupial mice, but the group also includes the cat-sized quolls, as well as the Tasmanian Devil...
family, many of which are supported by molecular systematics, and their relationship remains unresolved.
Common name
The name 'Dibbler' is used by government and scientific authorities, and in popular usage, to refer to this species exclusively.In the Dibbler Recovery Plan, Senior DEC scientist, Dr. Tony Friend notes
Strahan (2003) introduced the common name "southern dibbler" for P. apicalis [Parantechinus apicalis] and "northern dibbler" for the sandstone antechinus" [Pseudantechinus bilarni] ... the well-established use of "dibbler" to refer only to P. apicalis is recommended and is followed in this plan."
A number of common names derive from previous systematic arrangements. John Gould
John Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
gave several names from the Nyoongar/Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
language; Marn-dern and Wy-a-lung are from northern areas, Dib-bler is from the dialect spoken in the King George Sound
King George Sound
King George Sound is the name of a sound on the south coast of Western Australia. Located at , it is the site of the city of Albany.The sound covers an area of and varies in depth from to ....
region. The practice of restoring traditional names to marsupial species has conserved this common name. Gould referred to the species as the Freckled Antechinus, and it has also been known as the Speckled Marsupial Mouse.
The online edition of Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World
Mammal Species of the World, now in its 3rd edition, is a standard reference work in zoology giving descriptions and bibliographic data for the known species of mammals.An updated Third Edition of Mammal Species of the World was published late in 2005:...
gave the name Southern dibbler in 2009. A species known as the Northern (or Sandstone
Sandstone Dibbler
The Sandstone False Antechinus, Pseudantechinus bilarni, also known as the Sandstone Pseudantechinus, the Sandstone Antechinus, the Sandstone Dibbler, Harney's Antechinus and the Northern Dibbler, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial, which has a patchy distribution in Australia's Northern...
) Dibbler, Pseudantechinus bilarni, is found in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. This species has been distinguished by the name Southern Dibbler, however this name is given in The Mammals of Australia (2008), the formative guide for Australian mammal nomenclature worldwide.
Conservation status
The Dibbler was believed to have become extinct until it was rediscovered in 1967 at Cheyne Beach on the south coast of Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
after a gap of 80 years. It remains an endangered species.
The Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo
The Perth Zoo is a zoo that opened in 1898 in South Perth, Western Australia. As of January 2011, it is home to 1258 animals of 164 species and includes an extensive botanical collection....
in Western Australia operates a conservation project for the Dibbler which is helpful in its survival and breeding, and along with the Department of Environment and Conservation have helped to breed and release more dibblers into the wild.
In the early 19th century, dibblers were widely distributed across Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. By 1884, they were declared extinct, but some were found on the southern coast of Western Australia in 1967. They are threatened by habitat loss (land clearing, forest fires) and predators. Their predators are mainly feral foxes
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
and feral cats
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
.
External links
- Southern Dibbler World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
- ARKive - images and movies of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis)
- entry on dibblers at Australianfauna.com
- The dibbler at Animal Info
- dibbler factsheet
- more info on the dibbler
- the rediscovery of the dibbler