Threatened of the Northern Territory

FAWN Antechinus bellus

Conservation status : Vulnerable Northern Territory: Endangered

Photo: K. Brennan Description

The is a small (30-60 g) dasyurid, that is pale to medium grey-brown above, sometimes with a brownish tinge, cream or light grey below. The chin and feet are white and there is a pale eye-ring (Menkhorst & Knight 2009). The tail is uniformly brown, slightly darker above and is shorter than the head-body length (Cole and Woinarski 2002). Females do not have true pouch (Watson & Calaby 2008).

Distribution Known locations of the fawn antechinus

The fawn antechinus is the only species of Ecology Antechinus found in the savannah woodland A terrestrial and arboreal insectivore that is and tall open of the Top End of the generally active at dusk and dawn (Cole and Northern Territory (NT) (Watson & Calaby Woinarski 2002). Diet mainly consists of 2008). The species is restricted to the NT, insects although it may occasionally take small largely to the mainland but there is one record geckos (Watson & Calaby 2008). The fawn of the species from the Tiwi Islands. antechinus shelters in tree hollows and fallen Conservation reserves where reported: logs (Cole and Woinarski 2002). Much of the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Kakadu habitat is burnt during the Dry season and this National Park and Litchfield National Park. antechinus shows a preference for areas exposed to cooler and less frequent fires (Woinarski et al 2004).

Breeding occurs around mid June to late August after which the males die. Young are

born from late September to October and litter size can be as high as ten. During the

For more information visit www.denr.nt.gov.au

breeding season males may have the on Complied by the chest stained yellow to brown from a chest gland (Watson & Calaby 2008). Stuart Young [December 2012] Conservation assessment References This species qualifies as Endangered in the NT (under criterion A2a), based on: Cole, J., and Woinarski, J. (2002). Field Guide to Rodents & Dasyurids of the Northern Territory. (Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney.) • Population reduction of >50 per cent over Firth, R.S.C., Woinarski, J.C.Z., Brennan, K.G., the last three generations (10 years) and Hempel, C. (2006). Environmental where causes of reduction have not relationships of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat ceased; based on direct observation Conilurus penicillatus and other small on the Tiwi Islands, northern Australia. Journal of Biogeography 33,

1820-1837. Threatening processes Menkhorst,. P & Knight,. F. (2009). A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. No single factor has been demonstrated to (Oxford University Press, Melbourne.) have caused the decline of fawn antechinus. Palmer, C. (2010). Kakadu Hotspot surveys. Final report to Parks Australia. The current Territory wide decline is probably (NRETAS, Darwin.) Watson, M.L. & Calaby, J.H. (2008). Fawn due to ongoing inappropriate fire regimes Antechinus I (Thomas, 1904). In The affecting habitat suitability, and predation by Mammals of Australia, third edition. (S. Van feral cats (Woinarski et al 2010). Dyck & R. Strahan eds.) pp.85 (Reed New Holland, Sydney) Changed fire regimes, weeds and grazing by Woinarski, J.C.Z., Armstrong, M., Brennan, K., Fisher, A., Griffiths, A.D., Hill, B., Milne, livestock and feral may have changed D.J., Palmer, C., Ward, S., Watson, M., the availability of preferred or vital food Winderlich, S., and Young, S. (2010). resources (e.g. particular insect species), and Monitoring indicates rapid and severe more frequent hot fires may have reduced the decline of native small mammals in Kakadu National Park, northern Australia. Wildlife availability of hollow logs and tree hollows Research 37, 116-126. (Woinarski et al. 2004). Woinarski, J.C.Z., Armstrong, M., Price, O., McCartney, Conservation objectives and J., Griffiths, T., and Fisher, A. (2004). The management terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory: The fawn antechinus is one of a suite of monitoring over a 6-year period, and mammal species exhibiting declines across the response to fire history. Wildlife Research Top End over the past ten years, with no clear 31, 1-10. explanation. There is no existing recovery plan or management program for this species.

In the interim, priorities for the recovery of this species are to:

i. conduct research to define cause(s) of decline; and ii. develop a recovery plan or management plan.

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