DOCSLIB.ORG

Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats Page 2 Fourth Crossing Wildlife a Note from Fauna First Aid

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats Page 2 Fourth Crossing Wildlife a Note from Fauna First Aid a guide to the care of bare-nosed wombats version 3.1 care guide by linda dennis veterinary guide by kim rolls and anne fowler naturopathic guide by anne-marie dineen “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.” Dalai Lama created by supported by a guide to the ccaaree ooff bbaaree-nnoosseed wwommbbatts version 3.1 Bare-Nosed Wombat © Linda Dennis section 1 ......................................the care guide ................................... Page 7 section 2 ................................. the veterinary guide ...........................Page 137 section 3 ............................... the naturopathic guide .........................Page 153 A Guide to the Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats Page 2 Fourth Crossing Wildlife www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com a note from Fauna First Aid I would like to send huge thanks to Shirley Lack and Kim Rolls who generously agreed to help present the inaugural care of bare-nosed wombats course in November 2005, which helped get this lecture program off the ground. Huge thanks to Kim Rolls and Anne Fowler who kindly agreed to write the veterinary guide and for all their advice and support over the years. And to Anne-Marie Dineen, I give many thanks for sharing her knowledge in the naturopathic guide - giving the wildlife community even more options for the quality care of Bare-Nosed Wombats - and Australian wildlife in general. Thanks to my much valued vets - Judith Carney (Summer Street Veterinary Centre), Kim Rolls (Orange Veterinary Hospital) and Sarah Butler (North Hill Veterinary Hospital) who have all helped me enormously with advice and discounted services over the years. Huge thanks also to Benn Bryant of Dubbo’s Veterinary and Quarantine Centre at Western Plains Zoo and Tim Portas of Australia Zoo who have both offered consultations, medications and advice free of charge. The care guide component of this manual has been written from personal experience while caring for Bare-Nosed Wombats as well as other Australian marsupials. My experience has been learnt due to the many individuals in the wildlife community who have been willing to share care information with me and from the many exceptional wildlife care guides that are made available to carers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have offered much valued advice and support throughout the years and those who have selflessly written guides on the care of native animals so that people - like me - can learn more. Many thanks to the following individuals and organisations for allowing me the use of their wombat photos for this guide; Carol Pullar, Sandra Stewart, Cara Lee, Shirley Lack, Marg Larner, Lorraine Bell, Sarah Trembath, Michele Barnes of Dreamworld in Queensland, Western Plains Zoo, Australian Museum Online, Museum Victoria, University of Edinburgh, Anne-Marie Dineen, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Naracoorte Caves, Terri Eather Kay Muddiman, Stephanie Clarke, Wayne White, Helen Taylor and Robbie Taylor. Special thanks to Alan Horsup of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for allowing me to use photos of the critically endangered Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat. I am exceptionally honoured to be given permission to use these very special photos. A big hug to my sister, Fiona Saxton, who proof read the guide and corrected the 7 million grammatical errors in the guide! Enormous gratitude and appreciation to: Digital Pacific for sponsoring my website www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com . the Australian Geographic Society for supporting my Fauna First Aid wildlife lecture program. the Australian Wildlife Society (formerly the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia) for recognising my wildlife education work and awarding me the 2006 Serventy Conservation Medal Runner Up and for their continued support of my wildlife work. the International Fund for Animal Welfare for also recognising my work and awarding me the 2007 Animal Welfare and Education Award . And of course, massive thanks to my wonderful husband Todd, who has dealt admirably with my wildlife obsession……… and the crap that often goes with it. Kind regards, Linda Dennis Fauna First Aid Fourth Crossing Wildlife www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com dedicated to the conservation of Australian native animals.... A Guide to the Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats Page 3 Fourth Crossing Wildlife www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com Linda Dennis, course organiser, presenter and author of the care guide, can be contacted at [email protected] or on 0416 014 4 66. Kim Rolls, co-author of the veterinary guide, can be contacted at Orange Veterinary Hospital (02) 6361 8388. The vet hospital is located on Molong Road in Orange. Anne Fowler, co-author of the veterinary guide can be contacted at PO Box 1423, Healsville VIC 3775. Phone contact for Anne is 0409 503 379. Anne-Marie Dineen, author of the naturopathic guide can be contacted on (07) 5484 7354 or by email at [email protected] . Anne-Marie’s clinic is located at 389 Cogzell Road, Oakview QLD 4600 (near Kilkivan). Disclaimer This manual and accompanying course are designed to provide an overview of the care of Bare-Nosed Wombats. While every effort has been taken to include the complete data required to care for or raise Bare-Nosed Wombats, the authors and course presenters will not accept responsibility or liability for any error, omission or reliance upon the information or advice given. Each state and territory have different requirements for caring for wildlife, and most states require that a carer is licensed. While the course and this manual have provided the information to care for wombats, those wishing to care for them are responsible to see that they are appropriately licensed (if applicable). Any involvement in caring for wildlife is done entirely at your own risk. The authors and course presenters accept no liability for injuries or difficulties arising from your involvement. Material and photo graphy * in this manual are protected by copyright. However, use of the material (only) is allowed for training purposes that benefit the wildlife community, with the expectation that the authors be advised prior to use. * All photography in this manual are protected by law and cannot be reproduced without permission from the owner/s. Graphics listings can be found in each section. Remember! Learning does not stop with this guide and accompanying course. You are encouraged to seek further advice and attend more courses to continually broaden your knowledge. You are also encouraged to build a support network across barriers such as regions and individual wildlife organisations. There is a page at the end of this guide where you can record contact details of people who have attended this course, as well as others you may already know. And please, share your knowledge - our precious Aussie critters can only benefit from it! A Guide to the Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats Version 3.1 2017 A Guide to the Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats Page 4 Fourth Crossing Wildlife www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com introduction linda dennis… My passion for Australian native animals was kick started more then 20 years ago with my very first raptor experience at Eagle Heritage near Margaret River in Western Australia. After an up close and personal experience with a Black Kite perching on my gloved hand I vowed that I would soon work closely with these magnificent creatures. Some years later I held true to the vow and I become licensed to raise and rehabilitate native animals that had been injured, were sick or orphaned. And, with the help of my husband Todd, I have now been experiencing the joy of wildlife care for nearly 20 years. I have cared for many Australian native animals including several species of macropod and possum, various reptiles and many (1) species of bird including my beloved Birds of Prey, in which I specialised in for nearly 3 years. I had the immense pleasure of successfully rehabilitating and releasing many Birds of Prey including the awesome Wedge-Tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Collared Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Black-Shouldered Kite and more. For many years I have had the enormous delight of raising Bare-Nosed Wombats. These short and stocky bundles of energy and bravado became my ultimate passion in life! Our first wombat Tici - with very little effort - took over a large part of my heart and I have been hooked on wombats ever since. In 2004 I recognised that there was a gaping hole in my region in wildlife carer and public education relating to Australian wildlife and so I established Fauna First Aid . The programs début was to teach vet nurse students at Orange TAFE how to properly care for native animals in a veterinary care situation. The lectures have also been presented at Bathurst TAFE and I have been asked to teach at Dubbo, Mudgee and surrounding areas. In 2005 I extended the program to include school age students - highlighting the dangers involved in handling wild animals and to show what Mum & Dad could do to rescue a native animal and to provide short term care. A community program has also been included in the lecture series teaching rescue, proper handling technique and short term care. In June 2005 Fauna First Aid became a project sponsored by the Australian Geographic Society – a very humbling and proud moment. With such high profile backing I decided to take the plunge and move my wildlife seminars to the next level and so became a guide to the care of bare-nosed wombats. kim rolls… Kim Rolls is currently a veterinarian in general practice at Orange Veterinary Hospital. A graduate of Sydney University he has practiced in Sydney, Narromine & Egham in England. As well as general practice Kim spent a number of years running lamb and cattle feedlots, advising on nutrition and formulating rations for a feed mill and managing an Angus Stud. Kim’s interest in Australian wildlife stems from a childhood in country NSW and especially the years spent living beside the Pilliga Scrub at Baradine, helping in research for the books of his father, Eric Rolls.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a New Family of Diprotodontian Marsupials from the Latest Oligocene of Australia and the Evolution
    Title A new family of diprotodontian marsupials from the latest Oligocene of Australia and the evolution of wombats, koalas, and their relatives (Vombatiformes) Authors Beck, RMD; Louys, J; Brewer, Philippa; Archer, M; Black, KH; Tedford, RH Date Submitted 2020-10-13 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FOR A new family of diprotodontian marsupials from the latest Oligocene of Australia and the evolution of wombats, koalas, and their relatives (Vombatiformes) Robin M. D. Beck1,2*, Julien Louys3, Philippa Brewer4, Michael Archer2, Karen H. Black2, Richard H. Tedford5 (deceased) 1Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK 2PANGEA Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 3Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia 4Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom 5Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to R.M.D.B (email: [email protected]) This pdf includes: Supplementary figures Supplementary tables Comparative material Full description Relevance of Marada arcanum List of morphological characters Morphological matrix in NEXUS format Justification for body mass estimates References Figure S1. Rostrum of holotype and only known specimen of Mukupirna nambensis gen. et. sp. nov. (AMNH FM 102646) in ventromedial (a) and anteroventral (b) views. Abbreviations: C1a, upper canine alveolus; I1a, first upper incisor alveolus; I2a, second upper incisor alveolus; I1a, third upper incisor alveolus; P3, third upper premolar. Scale bar = 1 cm.
    [Show full text]
  • A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes
    J Mammal Evol DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9062-6 ORIGINAL PAPER A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes Robert W. Meredith & Michael Westerman & Judd A. Case & Mark S. Springer # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract Even though marsupials are taxonomically less diverse than placentals, they exhibit comparable morphological and ecological diversity. However, much of their fossil record is thought to be missing, particularly for the Australasian groups. The more than 330 living species of marsupials are grouped into three American (Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata) and four Australasian (Dasyuromorphia, Diprotodontia, Notoryctemorphia, and Peramelemorphia) orders. Interordinal relationships have been investigated using a wide range of methods that have often yielded contradictory results. Much of the controversy has focused on the placement of Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria). Studies either support a sister-taxon relationship to a monophyletic Australasian clade or a nested position within the Australasian radiation. Familial relationships within the Diprotodontia have also proved difficult to resolve. Here, we examine higher-level marsupial relationships using a nuclear multigene molecular data set representing all living orders. Protein-coding portions of ApoB, BRCA1, IRBP, Rag1, and vWF were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Two different Bayesian relaxed molecular clock methods were employed to construct a timescale for marsupial evolution and estimate the unrepresented basal branch length (UBBL). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian results suggest that the root of the marsupial tree is between Didelphimorphia and all other marsupials. All methods provide strong support for the monophyly of Australidelphia. Within Australidelphia, Dromiciops is the sister-taxon to a monophyletic Australasian clade.
    [Show full text]
  • Reproductionreview
    REPRODUCTIONREVIEW Wombat reproduction (Marsupialia; Vombatidae): an update and future directions for the development of artificial breeding technology Lindsay A Hogan1, Tina Janssen2 and Stephen D Johnston1,2 1Wildlife Biology Unit, Faculty of Science, School of Agricultural and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia and 2Australian Animals Care and Education, Mt Larcom 4695, Queensland, Australia Correspondence should be addressed to L A Hogan; Email: [email protected] Abstract This review provides an update on what is currently known about wombat reproductive biology and reports on attempts made to manipulate and/or enhance wombat reproduction as part of the development of artificial reproductive technology (ART) in this taxon. Over the last decade, the logistical difficulties associated with monitoring a nocturnal and semi-fossorial species have largely been overcome, enabling new features of wombat physiology and behaviour to be elucidated. Despite this progress, captive propagation rates are still poor and there are areas of wombat reproductive biology that still require attention, e.g. further characterisation of the oestrous cycle and oestrus. Numerous advances in the use of ART have also been recently developed in the Vombatidae but despite this research, practical methods of manipulating wombat reproduction for the purposes of obtaining research material or for artificial breeding are not yet available. Improvement of the propagation, genetic diversity and management of wombat populations requires a thorough understanding of Vombatidae reproduction. While semen collection and cryopreservation in wombats is fairly straightforward there is currently an inability to detect, induce or synchronise oestrus/ovulation and this is an impeding progress in the development of artificial insemination in this taxon.
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher Notes and Parent Support Material Learning Activities
    TEACHER NOTES AND PARENT SUPPORT MATERIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES © Queensland Museum 2011; Author Donna Dyson. ANIMALS of Australia Teacher Notes and Parent Support Material Learning Activities PAGES TEACHING LEARNING Cover and title page Text prediction from title 1. Children discuss the possum on the cover and predict where possums lives and which country it is from. Discuss how students can check their knowledge and ideas. 2. Children discuss if there are any animals which they may have as pets. 3. Children discuss different types of animals habitats All pages • Excursion. Children visit each animal species in this book. Mammals are found on level three of Queensland Museum. All pages Make a list Australian Mammals in both 1. Listing information this book and an extensional list. 2. Researching for further information 3. Presenting findings All pages Onomatopoeia and alliteration Children learn some words sound like the actions (onomatopoeia). Children discover every action word is of the same letter (alliteration) and that they all start with “S”. All pages Students collate the S words as a list and Students make a list of more S words which may describe extend their vocabulary by thinking up an action or a sound. new S words. All pages Graphs and Statistics -Chance and Data Using the table below, children vote on their favourite animal Mathematics in the book. Class counts the votes for each bird and discovers which bird is the most popular in the class. All pages Music Download the music for this book and learn it as a lullaby/ waltz. All pages Science: Australian Animals and Endan- Educational Audience: ages 6-8 yrs gered Species: Yr 3 All pages Science: Habitat, Ecology and Environ- Educational Audience: ages 6-8 yrs mental Sciences Yr.2-3 © Queensland Museum 2011; Author Donna Dyson.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kangaroo Island Tammar Wallaby
    The Kangaroo Island Tammar Wallaby Assessing ecologically sustainable commercial harvesting A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by Margaret Wright and Phillip Stott University of Adelaide March 1999 RIRDC Publication No 98/114 RIRDC Project No. UA-40A © 1999 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 57879 6 ISSN 1440-6845 "The Kangaroo Island Tammar Wallaby - Assessing ecologically sustainable commercial harvesting " Publication No: 98/114 Project No: UA-40A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Margaret Wright & Philip Stott Department of Environmental Science and Management University of Adelaide ROSEWORTHY SA 5371 Phone: 08 8303 7838 Fax: 08 8303 7956 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/ESM/ RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in March 1999 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword The Tammar Wallaby on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, is currently managed as a vertebrate pest.
    [Show full text]
  • Adaptations of Large Marsupials to Survival in Winter Snow Cover: Locomotion and Foraging
    Canadian Journal of Zoology Adaptations of large marsupials to survival in winter snow cover: locomotion and foraging. Journal: Canadian Journal of Zoology Manuscript ID cjz-2016-0097.R2 Manuscript Type: Article Date Submitted by the Author: 07-Sep-2016 Complete List of Authors: Green, K.; National Parks and Wildlife Service, Snowy Mountains Region, FEEDING < Discipline, FORAGING < Discipline, LOCOMOTION < Discipline, Keyword: MORPHOLOGYDraft < Discipline, SNOW < Discipline, ALPINE < Habitat https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjz-pubs Page 1 of 34 Canadian Journal of Zoology 1 Adaptations of large marsupials to survival in winter snow cover: locomotion and foraging. Running head: Adaptations of marsupials to snow K. Green National Parks and Wildlife Service, Snowy Mountains Region, PO Box 2228, Jindabyne, NSW 2627, Australia Draft Corresponding author. Email [email protected] Abstract: The small extent of seasonally snow-covered Australian mountains means that there has not been a great selective pressure on the mammalian fauna for adaptations to this environment. Only one large marsupial, the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus (Shaw, 1800)), is widespread above the winter snowline. In the past 20 years, with snow depth and duration declining, the swamp wallaby ( Wallabia bicolor (Desmarest, 1804)) has become more common above the winter snowline. The red-necked wallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus (Desmarest, 1817)) is common in alpine Tasmania where seasonal snow cover is neither as deep nor as long-lasting as on the mainland, but has only been recorded regularly above the winter snowline in the mainland Snowy Mountains since 2011. This study examines morphological https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjz-pubs Canadian Journal of Zoology Page 2 of 34 2 aspects of locomotion of these three herbivorous marsupials in snow.
    [Show full text]
  • Bearing up Well? Understanding the Past, Present and Future of Australia's Koalas
    Gondwana Research 25 (2014) 1186–1201 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Gondwana Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gr GR focus review Bearing up well? Understanding the past, present and future of Australia's koalas Karen H. Black a,⁎, Gilbert J. Price b, Michael Archer a, Suzanne J. Hand a a School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia b Department of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia article info abstract Article history: The modern Koala Phascolarctos cinereus is the last surviving member of a once diverse family Phascolarctidae Received 20 October 2013 (Marsupialia, Phascolarctomorphia). Nine genera and at least 16 species of koala are known. Late Oligocene sed- Received in revised form 17 December 2013 iments of central Australia record the oldest fossils and highest species diversity. Five species are known from the Accepted 22 December 2013 early to middle Miocene rainforest assemblages of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Queensland. With the Available online 30 December 2013 onset of dryer conditions after the middle Miocene climatic optimum (~16 Ma), rainforest habitats contracted Handling Editor: M. Santosh resulting in the apparent extinction of three koala lineages (Litokoala, Nimiokoala, Priscakoala). Phascolarctos first appears in the fossil record during the Pliocene and the modern species around 350 ka. Despite a dramatic Keywords: decline in taxonomic diversity to a
    [Show full text]
  • Cercartetus Lepidus (Diprotodontia: Burramyidae)
    MAMMALIAN SPECIES 842:1–8 Cercartetus lepidus (Diprotodontia: Burramyidae) JAMIE M. HARRIS School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, 2480, Australia; [email protected] Abstract: Cercartetus lepidus (Thomas, 1888) is a burramyid commonly called the little pygmy-possum. It is 1 of 4 species in the genus Cercartetus, which together with Burramys parvus form the marsupial family Burramyidae. This Lilliputian possum has a disjunct distribution, occurring on mainland Australia, Kangaroo Island, and in Tasmania. Mallee and heath communities are occupied in Victoria and South Australia, but in Tasmania it is found mainly in dry and wet sclerophyll forests. It is known from at least 18 fossil sites and the distribution of these reveal a significant contraction in geographic range since the late Pleistocene. Currently, this species is not listed as threatened in any state jurisdictions in Australia, but monitoring is required in order to more accurately define its conservation status. DOI: 10.1644/842.1. Key words: Australia, burramyid, hibernator, little pygmy-possum, pygmy-possum, Tasmania, Victoria mallee Published 25 September 2009 by the American Society of Mammalogists Synonymy completed 2 April 2008 www.mammalogy.org Cercartetus lepidus (Thomas, 1888) Little Pygmy-possum Dromicia lepida Thomas, 1888:142. Type locality ‘‘Tasma- nia.’’ E[udromicia](Dromiciola) lepida: Matschie, 1916:260. Name combination. Eudromicia lepida Iredale and Troughton, 1934:23. Type locality ‘‘Tasmania.’’ Cercartetus lepidus: Wakefield, 1963:99. First use of current name combination. CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Order Diprotodontia, suborder Phalangiformes, superfamily Phalangeroidea, family Burra- myidae (Kirsch 1968). No subspecies for Cercartetus lepidus are currently recognized.
    [Show full text]
  • Marsupial Lions & Methodological Omnivory
    Marsupial Lions & Methodological Omnivory: Function, Success and Reconstruction in Paleobiology Penultimate Version, published in Biology & Philosophy Abstract Historical scientists frequently face incomplete data, and lack direct experimental access to their targets. This has led some philosophers and scientists to be pessimistic about the epistemic potential of the historical sciences. And yet, historical science often produces plausible, sophisticated hypotheses. I explain this capacity to generate knowledge in the face of apparent evidential scarcity by examining recent work on Thylacoleo carnifex, the ‘marsupial lion’. Here, we see two important methodological features. First, historical scientists are methodological omnivores, that is, they construct purpose-built epistemic tools tailored to generate evidence about highly specific targets. This allows them to produce multiple streams of independent evidence and thus maximize their epistemic reach. Second, investigative scaffolding: research proceeds in a piece-meal fashion, information only gaining evidential relevance once certain hypotheses are well supported. I illustrate scaffolding in a discussion of the nature of functional ascription in paleobiology. Frequently, different senses of ‘function’ are not discriminated during paleobiological investigation—something which can mar adaptationist investigations of extant organisms. However, I argue that, due to scaffolding, conflating senses of ‘function’ can be the right thing to do. Coarse grained functional hypotheses are required before it is clear what evidence could discriminate between more fine-grained ones. I draw on omnivory and scaffolding to argue that pessimists make a bad empirical bet. It is a bad idea to bet against the epistemic fortunes of such opportunistic and resourceful scientists, especially when we have reason to think we will systematically underestimate the amount of evidence ultimately available to them.
    [Show full text]
  • THYLACOLEO CARNIFEX and the NARACOORTE CAVES Michael Curry, Liz Reed1,2 and Steve Bourne3
    RESEARCH CATCHING the MARSUPIAL ‘LION’ by the TAIL: THYLACOLEO CARNIFEX and the NARACOORTE CAVES Michael Curry, Liz Reed1,2 and Steve Bourne3 1School of Physical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 2School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia; 3Naracoorte Lucindale Council, Naracoorte, SA, Australia. “Thylacoleo exemplifies the simplest and most effective dental machinery for predatory life and carnivorous diet known in the Mammalian class. It is the extreme modification, to this end, of the Diprotodont type of Marsupialia.” Owen (1866) Introduction defending Thylacoleo as “A very gentle beast, and of good conscience” (Macleay 1859). Macleay based his Of all the extinct Australian Pleistocene megafauna argument on Thylacoleo’s relationship with other species, Thylacoleo carnifex (the marsupial ‘lion’) has Diprotodont marsupials, most of which are herbivores. captured the imagination and interest of people more Gerard Krefft, Curator of the Australian Museum, was than any other. Perhaps it is the allure of its predatory almost equally as unimpressed with Thylacoleo’s habits, (Australia’s Pleistocene answer to T. rex); or the carnivory, opining that it “…was not much more intriguing notion that it used caves as dens (Lundelius, carnivorous than the Phalangers (possums) of present 1966 ). It is certainly an enigma and, as Owen (1866) time.” (Krefft, 1866). Owen, meanwhile, had received an suggested, an extreme and meat-eating version of the almost complete skull from the Darling Downs, in otherwise herbivorous diprotodont marsupials. Queensland and published a more detailed paper, Spectacular fossil finds over the past few decades have further describing the skull and teeth of Thylacoleo, put to rest much of the speculation regarding its habits acknowledging its diprotodont affiliation but more and morphology.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Carers Dictionary
    Your guide to using the Wildlife Carers Dictionary. The Each dictionary word is highlighted in bold text . The phonetic pronunciation of a word is highlighted in italic text . Wild life Diseases and illnesses are highlighted in red text . Medications are highlighted in green text . Scientific names of Australian native animals most regularly Carers into care are highlighted in purple text . Native animals often have more than one “common” name which are used in different areas of Australia. Some names Dictionary can be quite quirky! You can find these names in blue text . Nouns – a naming word are coded (n.). Verbs – a doing word are coded (v.). Adjectives – a describing word are coded (adj.). Information on Australian habitats can be found in the green boxes. Photographs of Australia’s native animals can be found in the blue boxes. Please note: photos are not necessarily in alphabetical order. Did you know? Quirky, interesting wildlife facts can be found in the orange boxes with red text. Fauna First Aid is supported by the Wildlife Preservation by Linda Dennis Society of Australia and the Australian Geographic Society. Version One 2011 With thanks... About Linda Dennis... This dictionary has been a labour of love and has taken me quite My passion for Australian native animals started nearly 20 some time to write. I’ve loved each and every challenging minute of years ago with my very first raptor experience at Eagle it! Heritage near Margaret River in Western Australia. After an up close and personal experience with a Black Kite perching on I’m excited to bring you this wildlife resource as it’s so very new, to my gloved hand I vowed that I would soon work closely with my knowledge nothing like it has been done in the wildlife community these magnificent creatures.
    [Show full text]
  • Sarcoptes Scabiei: an Important Exotic Pathogen of Wombats
    Under the Microscope Sarcoptes scabiei: an important exotic pathogen of wombats Sarcoptes scabiei is a parasitic astigmatid favourable for survival of the mite when mite, which causes scabies in people and Lee F Skerratt off the host. It is thought that the sarcoptic mange in mammals (Figure 1). School of Veterinary and duration of mite survival off the host is a Importantly, it is an emerging disease in Biomedical Sciences key component affecting transmission James Cook University, wildlife throughout the world 1. The mite Townsville 4811 between wombats because wombats are originates from a human ancestor and is Australia. generally antisocial and avoid contact thought to have spread to domestic and Tel: 617 4781 4838 with one another 9. Wombats rely on then free-living animals 2, 3. Based on the Fax: 617 4779 1526 burrows for diurnal shelter and recent emergence of sarcoptic mange in E-mail: [email protected] transmission may occur when wombats Australian wildlife and Aboriginal share burrows. Burrows enhance the communities, it is thought that Sarcoptes Epidemiology in wombat survival of mites when off the host by scabiei was probably introduced to populations providing a stable temperate Australia by the Europeans and their environment. animals 3,4. The mitochondrial genetic Sarcoptic mange generally occurs at low similarity of mites from Australian wildlife prevalence (0 - 15%) in common wombat Epidemics of sarcoptic mange occur and domestic animals supports this 3, 5. In populations throughout southeast sporadically within wombat populations 7,8 Australian wildlife, sarcoptic mange has Australia . Its low prevalence is and appear to be mainly associated with been reported in the common wombat attributed to high mortality and immunity introduction of S.
    [Show full text]