Slender-tailed Dunnart
Encyclopedia
The Slender-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina), also known as the Common Dunnart in Australia
, is a dasyurid marsupial
. It has an average body length of 7 to 12 centimeters (2.8-4.7 in) with a tail length of 5.5 to 13 centimetres (2.2-5.1 in). It weighs 25-40.8 grams for males and 16.5-25.4 grams for females.
to the Port Lincoln area of South Australia
. There a 2 subspecies: S. m. murina is found throughout the distribution, and S. mu. tatei found between Townsville and Cairns in Queensland. This species is found at altitudes of between 60–360 metres (196.9-1181.1 ft) and preferes habitats with an average rainfall between 30-85 centimetres (11.8-33.5 in) per year. Habitats encountered include Mallee
scrub, dry forests and woodlands and dry heath, these areas have sparse ground and shrub
cover but have dense leaf
and bark
litter in Victoria to rainforest edges and swamps in Queensland.
between September and March each year, with the female breeding again after weaning
the first offspring
(B.J. Fox 1982). The female may live to breed a second year, although the male generally dies after mating. Gestation
is for 12.5 days with weening at 60–65 days and the litter size is usually 8-10 joeys. In unfavourable conditions and to save food, torpor
is sometimes a factor in the species life habit, but it is only documented in areas of extreme environmental factors. The species is nocturnal. (Fox and Whitford 1982)
feeder, found that a preference for beetles and moths with other prey less eaten than what was available. (Fox and Archer)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is a dasyurid marsupial
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
. It has an average body length of 7 to 12 centimeters (2.8-4.7 in) with a tail length of 5.5 to 13 centimetres (2.2-5.1 in). It weighs 25-40.8 grams for males and 16.5-25.4 grams for females.
Distribution and habitat
The Slender-tailed Dunnart is native to the east and south-east coast and interiour of Australia, from the Cape York PeninsulaCape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
to the Port Lincoln area of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. There a 2 subspecies: S. m. murina is found throughout the distribution, and S. mu. tatei found between Townsville and Cairns in Queensland. This species is found at altitudes of between 60–360 metres (196.9-1181.1 ft) and preferes habitats with an average rainfall between 30-85 centimetres (11.8-33.5 in) per year. Habitats encountered include Mallee
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands is a Major Vegetation Group which occurs in semi-arid areas of southern Australia. The vegetation is dominated by mallee eucalypts which are rarely over 6 metres high...
scrub, dry forests and woodlands and dry heath, these areas have sparse ground and shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
cover but have dense leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
and bark
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
litter in Victoria to rainforest edges and swamps in Queensland.
Breeding and socialization
The Slender-tailed Dunnart's breeding season begins in New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
between September and March each year, with the female breeding again after weaning
Weaning
Weaning is the process of gradually introducing a mammal infant, either human or animal, to what will be its adult diet and withdrawing the supply of its mother's milk.The process takes place only in mammals, as only mammals produce milk...
the first offspring
Offspring
In biology, offspring is the product of reproduction, of a new organism produced by one or more parents.Collective offspring may be known as a brood or progeny in a more general way...
(B.J. Fox 1982). The female may live to breed a second year, although the male generally dies after mating. Gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
is for 12.5 days with weening at 60–65 days and the litter size is usually 8-10 joeys. In unfavourable conditions and to save food, torpor
Torpor
Torpor, sometimes called temporary hibernation is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually characterized by a reduced body temperature and rate of metabolism. Animals that go through torpor include birds and some mammals such as mice and bats...
is sometimes a factor in the species life habit, but it is only documented in areas of extreme environmental factors. The species is nocturnal. (Fox and Whitford 1982)
Diet
An opportunistic arthropodArthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
feeder, found that a preference for beetles and moths with other prey less eaten than what was available. (Fox and Archer)