Threatened Species of the Northern Territory

BRUSH-TAILED MULGARA (MULGARA) Dasycercus blythi

Conservation status Australia: Vulnerable (as D. cristicauda) Northern Territory: Vulnerable

Description crest in D. cristicauda), (ii) the number of upper pre-molar teeth (two in D. blythi versus The brush-tailed mulgara is one of the larger three in D. cristicauda), and (iii) in females, the carnivorous with a body mass of number of teats (6 in D. blythi versus 8 in D. over 100 g, head body length of 15 cm and cristicauda). tail length of 9 cm. The species shows sexual dimorphism in size; males are significantly Distribution larger than females (Masters et al. 2003). The back is sandy brown and the belly is greyish- Because most previous records did not white. The short tail is enlarged and reddish distinguish among the two species of mulgara near the body, tapering quickly to a point. now recognized, there is ambiguity about the distribution of both species. There has been considerable taxonomic The brush-tailed mulgara is known from at confusion and re-sorting of the mulgaras. For least the western and Simpson deserts, with most of the last 30 years only one species, D. confirmed records in the Northern Territory cristicauda, was recognized. More recently, from Haast Bluff, Uluru, Papunya, Tanami based on some genetic and morphological Desert, Illamurta, Charlotte Waters and attributes, two species were recognized, the Crown Point (Woolley 2005, 2006). Mulgara D. cristicauda and Ampurta D. hillieri (Adams et al. 2000), with both occurring in the The species was once widespread and Northern Territory. However, Woolley (2005, common throughout the central deserts 2006) re-considered the complex historical region of Australia. However, it began to treatment of Dasycercus and re-assigned the decline in the 1930s and now has a more species to the brush-tailed mulgara D. blythi restricted and fragmented distribution than in and crest-tailed mulgara D. cristicauda, both of the past. which occur in the Northern Territory. Woolley (2005, 2006) distinguished these two Conservation reserves where reported: species on the following characteristics: (i) Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. appearance of black hairs on the distal half of the tail (a brush in D. blythi versus a dorsal

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Conservation assessment

Numbers fluctuate dramatically according to climatic conditions making it difficult to estimate the size of the population and, as a consequence, to determine population trends.

Assessment of the conservation status of this species is further complicated by the historical (and in some cases, current)

ambiguity of records attributable to this species as distinct from those of D. Known locations of mulgara (note that this map cristicauda. includes records that may be either D. blythi or D. cristicauda). The decline in the range of the brush- tailed ο = pre 1970; • = post 1970. mulgara in the Northern Territory occurred earlier than relevant to IUCN criteria (i.e. <10 Ecology years or three generations). However, the Brush-tailed mulgaras are primarily nocturnal, species qualifies as Vulnerable (under criteria and shelter during the day in burrows that are C2a(i)) based on: about 0.5 m deep. Some are known to • a population estimated to be “sunbake” during the day in cold weather. The • <10,000 mature individuals; species is both insectivorous and carnivorous • a continuing decline observed, taking a range of insects, scorpions, projected, or inferred and centipedes, rodents, small marsupials and • no subpopulation estimated to contain reptiles. >1000 mature individuals. Brush-tailed mulgaras occur in a range of vegetation types; however, the principal Threatening processes habitat is mature hummock grasslands of spinifex, especially basedowii and T. The cause of decline in the brush- tailed pungens (Masters et al. 2003). The location of mulgara is unknown and, therefore, it has not brush-tailed mulgara colonies may be been possible to identify threatening influenced by the presence of better watered processes. However, it is likely that the areas such as paleo-drainage systems or processes of environmental degradation and drainage lines in sandplain or sand dune habitat homogenization that have occurred habitats. throughout arid Australia following European settlement have negatively affected the The species breeds once per year, mating in mulgara. Changes in fire regimes, grazing by autumn or winter with litters of 3-6 young introduced herbivores including cattle and being produced between October and rabbits, and predation by introduced December. Home range size is highly variable predators are all likely threatening processes. with extremes of 1.0 to 14.4 hectares recorded (Masters 2003). Home ranges of individuals overlap extensively.

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Conservation objectives and Complied by management Chris Pavey A national Recovery Plan for mulgaras is due Jeff Cole for release in 2007. John Woinarski [December 2006] Management priorities in the Northern Territory are: References i. to better safeguard existing Adams, M., Cooper, N., and Armstrong, J. (2000). populations by ensuring that large Revision of Dasycercus Systematics. A report to areas of mature spinifex are not the South Australian Department for subjected to extensive wildfires; Environment and Heritage. ii. to continue regular monitoring of the Masters, P. (2003). Movement patterns and spatial relatively large population(s) in Uluru- organization of the mulgara, Dasycercus Kata Tjuta NP/Yulara bore fields cristicauda (Marsupialia: ), in central Australia. Wildlife Research 30, 339-344. (currently being undertaken by Parks Masters, P., Dickman, C. R., and Crowther, M. Australia and Voyages Hotels and (2003). Effects of cover reduction on mulgara Resorts, respectively); Dasycercus cristicauda (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), iii. to better resolve the status and rodent and invertebrate populations in central distribution of the two mulgara Australia: implications for land management. species; and Austral Ecology 28, 658-665. Woolley, P.A. (2005). The species of Dasycercus iv. to prevent harmful disturbances (e.g. Peters, 1875 (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Memoirs mining operations) within lateritic of Museum Victoria 62, 213-221. areas in the north of the range. Woolley, P.A. (2006). Studies on the crest-tailed mulgara Dasycercus cristicauda and the brush- This species is held and bred at the Alice tailed mulgara D. blythi (Marsupialia: Springs Desert Park. Dasyuridae). Australian Mammalogy 28, 117- 120.

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