Dasyurids Dasyurids Possums and Gliders Possums and Gliders Terrestrial of the Southwest Slopes & Dasyurids Dasyurids Possums and Gliders Possums and Gliders Upper Murray Region of NSW Dasyurids are a family of carnivorous spread across Gliders have a gliding membrane, while possums do not. Feathertail Glider Slopes to Summit Australia and New Guinea. Dasyurids are characterised by their Their young are called joeys. Acrobates pygmaeus PG ■ ■ ■ ■ Slopes to Summit (S2S) is governed by a Working Group of organisations, including Terrestrial Mammals biting and cutting teeth, and their relatively short life span. The Feathertail is the smallest gliding

Nature Conservation Trust of NSW, Charles Sturt University, Holbrook Landcare Terrestrial Mammals Sugar Glider in the world. This glider is the Network, Murray Local Land Services, CSIRO, Australian National University, Petaurus breviceps PG ■ ■ ■ V size of a mouse with grey/brown back and Parklands Albury Wodonga, Albury Conservation Company, and the NSW Office of white belly. Head and body length is 8 cm. The Sugar Glider is pale grey with a white Environment and Heritage. The group has a vested interest in the management and of the Southwest Slopes & The tail is about the same. It has a belly with black markings. It has a gliding protection of biodiversity in the Eastern Murray region of NSW, and potential effects distinctive and unique attened tail that membrane stretching from its fth nger of climate change. The S2S region extends from the mountains of Kosciuszko looks like a feather. It can glide up to 25 m to the back ankle. Body length is around National Park in the east to the fragmented agricultural landscapes of the South using its tail as a rudder. Upper Murray Region of NSW 30 cm including tail. It commonly gives West Slopes including the Murray River and Billabong Creek catchments. The area birth to twins, which remain in the pouch Known from the lower and upper slopes includes box-gum woodlands, riverine forests and floodplains, and wet and dry for just over two months. where there is a diversity of tree and shrub sclerophyll forests. An identification and habitat management guide species for year round nectar supply. Known from the upper slopes and S2S is one of the regional partnerships under the Great Eastern Ranges (GER) mountains. Dependent on tree hollows initiative that are working together to improve habitat and connectivity. Over 64% for nests. of NSW’s listed threatened species exist within the GER area. Our local biodiversity, Agile Antechinus agilis GL ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ which includes an abundance of fungi, plants and , is under enormous stress The Agile antechinus has plain grey/brown fur above and pale fur below. Greater Glider resulting from widespread clearance, fragmentation of habitat and climate change. It has a hairy thin tail. They mate during a two week period in August, after Petauroides volans PG ■ ■ E Connectivity conservation is about ensuring we enable a range of a species to move which the males die of exhaustion. Six to eight young are born after a one month Squirrel Glider The largest glider in the region; it is dark between habitats and therefore maintain healthy and resilient populations. of the Southwest Slopes & Upper Murray Region NSW gestation. The female has a small pouch, and as the young get bigger they are grey or mottled cream and grey above, with dragged along the ground attached to her nipples. Petaurus norfolcensis PM ■ ■ ■ a whitish underside. Its tail is long and furry Known from the upper slopes. Squirrel Gliders have a head and body and its snout is short and ears large. It can length of about 20 cm. They have blue-grey Brush-tailed Phascogale tapoatafa KS ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ V glide for up to 100 m. At the end of its glide to brown-grey fur above, white on the belly. it moves to a vertical position to slow down A dark stripe runs from between the eyes to Culcairn The Phascogale has a characteristic, black, bushy bottlebrush shaped tail. Its fur before it lands with all four feet hitting the Rosewood the mid-back and the tail is bushy with a Walbundrie Holbrook is grey above and pale cream below. It has large black eyes and naked ears. Adults tree. It rarely comes down to ground level. Walla Walla have a head and body length of about 20 cm and a tail the same length. Most black tip. Tumbarumba males die after their rst breeding season from stress-induced illness. Known from the upper slopes and Woomargama Squirrel Gliders are up to twice the size of mountains especially moist tall Eucalypt Mullengandra Known from the upper slopes and mountains. Uncon rmed reports in the Sugar Gliders, and their facial markings are forests. Feeds almost exclusively Jindera Jingellic Upper Upper Murray area. more distinct. They can glide about 50 m on Eucalypt leaves. between trees. Albury Known from the lower slopes. Legend Common Ringtail Possum S2S zones Slopes to Summit Region Mount Pseudocheirus peregrinus PG ■ ■ ■ Lower Slopes Khancoban Yellow-bellied Glider Upper Slopes Petaurus australis JW ■ ■ ■ V The Ringtail is about the size of a , with a Mountains long white-tipped prehensile tail, which can The Yellow-bellied Glider is large, active, be used for gripping. Its fur is grey-brown sociable and vocal. It has a large gliding with a white underbelly. It has two thumbs Websites and Contacts of Interest Yellow-footed Antechinus Antechinus avipes VD ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ membrane that extends from wrist to ankle. on each front foot to help with climbing and It is grey on its back and creamy to orange is one of only a few marsupials able to feed GER/S2S www.greateasternranges.org.au The Yellow-footed Antechinus diers from the Agile Antechinus in that it has underneath, larger than the Sugar Glider and on eucalypt leaves. This is the only possum Murray Local Land Services www.murray.lls.nsw.gov.au 1300 795 299 a distinct grey head and shoulders contrasting with yellowish-brown to has a longer uy tail. It extracts sap by species where the male helps care for the Holbrook Landcare Network www.holbrooklandare.org.au 02 60363181 reddish-orange body, with broad feet of bu to yellow brown colour. biting into the trunks and branches of trees, young and carries them on Atlas of Living Australia www.ala.gov.au Known from the upper slopes and lower slopes below 500 m elevation. often leaving a distinctive V-shaped scar. his back. NSW Office of Environment & Heritage www.environment.nsw.gov.au Known from the upper slopes and mountains. Known across the Slopes to Summit region, Acknowledgements An endangered population is present on the it relies on corridors to move around as it Bago Plateau. rarely comes to the ground. Compiled by Julia McCourt (MLLS) with support from Kylie Durant (HLN) and Helen Waudby (MLLS) on behalf of the S2S Partnership. This project is supported through Common Brushtail Possum funding from the Australian Government. Spotted-tailed or Tiger Quoll Trichosurus vulpecula PG ■ ■ ■ ■ Photography credits: (all photos copyright of the photographer) Dasyurus maculatus KS The Brushtail is a large possum with a bushy Cover photo Kim Wormald, Agile Antechinus, Antechinus agilis www.lirralirra.com ■ ■ ■ ■ V tail with a prehensile tip and a hairless patch Other images: on the underside, which helps it grasp tree A quoll is about the size of a domestic cat, branches. It has pointed ears and is grey Pavel German www.australiannature.com (PG) Steve Townsend OEH (ST) but has shorter legs and a pointed face. Its with a black band across the snout, and David Cook Wildlife Photography (DC) John Turbill OEH (JT) dark-brown fur and irregular white spots white to brownish-yellow belly. Its forefeet Vik Dunis www.bushpea.com (VD) Bruce Thomson (BT) are quite unique and make it easy to have sharp claws and the hindfeet each Geoff Walker www.bushpea.com (GW) Stephen Babka (SB) identify. Their young are called joeys. They have an opposable, clawless toe that have will eat birds and medium-sized mammals, John Perkins (JP) Sam Neidra (SN) good grips. such as possums and bandicoots, where Simon Dallinger (SD) Shane Ruming (SR) opportunity exists. Known across the Slopes to Summit region. Ken Stepnell OEH/Parks Victoria (KS) Gary Lewis (deceased) (GL) Quoll Scat. SN It has a diverse diet, including insects, Peter Merritt (PM) Scott Melgaard (SM) Known from the upper slopes and mountains. Typical scars left by Yellow Bellied Ringtail Possum in a tree nest. PG owers and even eggs. Uncon rmed sightings recorded from Woomargama National Park. J Winter OEH (JW) Kylie Durant (KD) Typical slopes landscape. KD Glider extracting sap. JP

©Design - Colourfield Design 2018 Monotremes and other Marsupials Monotremes and other Marsupials Eutherians (Placental Mammals) Macropods Connectivity and Habitat

Koala Eutherians all bear live young, which are nourished before birth Eastern Grey Kangaroo One of the great things about living in the South West Slopes and Upper Murray Link existing vegetation sites, especially if the patches are less Phascolarctus cinereus JT ■ ■ in the mother's uterus through a specialized embryonic organ area is being surrounded by nature and sharing the landscape with many unique than one km apart Macropus giganteus PG ■ ■ ■ and interesting plants and animals. Our region hosts mammals that are often not • Wider vegetation corridors are better, but dierent species have dierent The iconic Koala’s fur is thick, soft and attached to the uterus wall, the placenta. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is easy to found anywhere else in the state. requirements grey, with white underneath. Their ears recognise with its soft grey coat and have long white hairs on the tips. Bush Rat There are signi cant vegetation corridors in the upper slopes, but in lowland pale belly. An adult male can be heavily areas the native vegetation is often degraded and isolated from other patches • For most (mobile) species aim for stepping stones across the property that Koalas have large claws for climbing. Rattus fuscipes muscled and around 2 m tall, weighing are less than 100 m apart. The stepping stones may be existing tree patches, They sleep for about 75% of the time, with many understorey and mid storey species missing. Habitat fragmentation 50 to 66 kg, with females around 17 to occurs when areas of continuous habitat are reduced to a set of smaller remnants paddock trees, rocky outcrops as well as remnant vegetation becoming active after sunset and GW ■ ■ ■ 40 kg. Their hind feet are large and surrounded by a relatively uniform matrix of crop elds and/or cleared pasture. • Work with neighbours to connect patches of vegetation in the landscape, they seldom drink water – they get Bush rats are shy creatures, generally powerful and their long muscular tail is their liquids from the Eucalyptus This process often results in the creation of numerous small and isolated nd out about incentive programs just moving about at night. Their body used for balance when hopping. populations that are highly vulnerable to diseases, catastrophic events, leaves they eat instead. Koala young fur is grey-brown to red-brown with are called joeys. The Eastern Grey Kangaroo is the inbreeding and activities such as clearing of fallen timber and scrub, increased pale grey underneath. Their feet are second largest and heaviest living grazing pressure, land use change and pests and weeds. Koalas are found in mature forests, pink-white, tails are pink-brown and marsupial in Australia. Once born, the and there are historic records of Koalas slightly shorter than length of head and Habitat corridors are the primary tool we use to achieve functional connectivity joey will stay in its mum's pouch for up in fragmented landscapes. Functional connectivity describes the degree to from the Upper Murray. There is anecdotal body. Young are called pups. to eight months. evidence that their range is extending and which the landscape facilitates or impedes the movement of individuals Known from the upper slopes where Eastern Greys are found across the between patches. they may be moving back into the area. there is dense groundcover. Slopes to Summit region. Fortunately, there has been signi cant investment by both public and private Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus PG ■ ■ land managers in our region to conserve, enhance and establish vegetation. Grey-headed Flying Fox This helps to improve functional connectivity and habitat diversity, which also A solitary monotreme (egg laying ), the Echidna’s short quills give it Red-necked Wallaby protection as it rolls into a ball when threatened. Males also have a spur on their Pteropus poliocephalus bene ts land managers through the additional ecosystem services provided by vegetation such as shade, ankle that is not venomous. It has strong claws for digging and tearing termite SR V Macropus rufogriseus DC ■ ■ and ant mounds apart, and a long tongue with a sticky coating for catching ants. ■ ■ ■ shelter, impact on water A smaller macropod, their fur is grey Echidnas have no teeth. The female lays a single soft-shelled egg and keeps it in The Grey-headed Flying Fox is one of retention and quality, erosion with reddish hairs seen on their her pouch until it hatches. The young is called a puggle. the largest bats in the world. Its body control and pollination. Farmers shoulders and upper back with a white fur is typically medium to dark grey, in our region care about their Fox with dead glider. PG Known across the Slopes to Summit region. or pale grey abdomen. The Red-necked with many light-tipped hairs. The fur stewardship of the land and Wallaby can also be distinguished from on the head is also grey, but varies want to leave their farms in Manage the matrix – some farm practices can be sympathetic to other wallabies by its white cheek Common Wombat from near black to silver. An orange better condition than they our wildlife markings and a weak face stripe. Their Vombatus ursinus ST or russet-coloured collar encircles the found it. We are lucky to have ■ ■ muzzle, paws and toes are black in • Retain and protect paddock trees, and have a succession plan for them! neck. Leg fur extends to the ankle. active landcare, community and Wombats are stout, sturdy colour. They are solitary, not forming Young are called pups. producer groups that • Maintain good ground cover in pasture areas marsupials with sharp claws groups. The pouch life for a Red-necked collaborate to support healthy, and stubby, powerful legs that Known from the lower and Wallaby joey is about nine months, with diverse and functioning A revegetation site connecting isolated • Retain areas of native pastures – a diverse pasture base makes for resilience in make them great diggers. upper slopes. the joey continuing to suckle for up to landscapes. remnant fragments . SD uncertain climate and can provide habitat and food resources for native species They are often called the 12-15 months of age. • Establish stock shelterbelts in strategic places for wildlife movement as well ‘bulldozers of the bush’. Found in the upper slopes such as To help conserve terrestrial mammals in our region you can: as stock They grow to about 1.3 m Woomargama National Park, preferring in length, and can weigh up to Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta BT ■ ■ ■ ■ Micro Bats • Control foxes, pigs and dogs that predate directly on wildlife, and manage areas of dense vegetation. Be aware of what is living in your backyard 40 kg. They have a large, blunt The Long-nosed Bandicoot is about the size of a domestic cat, with pointed Small nocturnal bats found across the domestic animals such as , especially at night • Be aware of what wildlife is in your area – check out online tools such as head with small eyes and ears, ears and a long pointed snout. The fur is greyish brown on the back and creamy Slopes to Summit region. They use • Control rabbits, deer and pigs as they compete for resources and ala.org.au, bionet.gov.au and australianmuseum.net.au and a short, muscular neck. underneath. It sits with a hunched posture. The Long-nosed Bandicoot is echolocation to nd their prey and are degrade habitat The mother’s pouch faces nocturnal and digs for food making conical holes. It makes a high pitched mostly insectivorous. They roost in tree • Record sightings to the ALA to improve our knowledge backwards, which stops dirt trumpet sound when disturbed. Young are called joeys hollows, caves, crevices in bark, rocks • Control weeds as they can degrade habitat and replace food and shelter and twigs getting caught in it • Participate in local surveys and monitoring events plants used by wildlife Known from the upper slopes, there is also evidence of their presence in and often in houses. Important insect when the mother digs. A young Woomargama National Park. predators in our agricultural landscape. • Join a local community Landcare or environment group wombat is called a joey. Some common species include the Little • Be a responsible pet owner Guide to Symbols Known across the Slopes to Forest Bat which is one of the smallest Summit region. and most abundant bat in the region. Its Look after and enhance existing vegetation Food Source fur is pale grey/brown and adults usually • Manage stock grazing pressure – consider a fence! Consider excluding weigh between 2.5 and 5 g with a body ■ : insects, , , snails length of up to 5 cm. Females are grazing for block periods if the site is in good condition. If grazing, avoid slightly larger than males, and their Nov to Jan when natives set seed, and crash graze for short periods very early ■ Small and/or medium vertebrates: frogs, reptiles, small mammals, eggs Spring to control annuals and late Autumn to avoid seed set wing span can be up to 15 cm. Up to 50 ■ Plant based: fruits, berries, exudates (gum, nectar, sap, pollen, resin), leaves, bats can roost together in a colony. Swamp (or Black) Wallaby Wallabia bicolor SB ■ ■ • Make patches bigger with planted vegetation or fenced buers grasses, herbs, fungi, roots for regeneration They are agile iers, usually eating The Swamp Wallaby is a small solid marsupial that is very dark in colour with a their prey as they y. They have only reddish orange/yellow belly. It has a dark, almost black face. The fur is coarse. Its • Replace missing vegetation layers – plant understorey shrubs, grasses and Habitat one young per year and carry it with forbs tail is long and held straight out behind the body when hopping and the wallaby ■ Understory/mid storey: scrub, hollow logs, rocks, crevices, burrows them until they are too big. Young are keeps its head low to the ground. They are active feeders during the day, but are called pups. • Leave dead, standing and fallen timber or move it into vegetation areas shy and solitary. rather than burning it ■ Overstorey: nests in hollows or tree forks, moves through tall canopy Another example is the White-striped Like many macropods, females can suckle two joeys of dierent ages. The pouch • Consider adding habitat resources such as ground timber or nestboxes if ■ Urban gardens and parklands Little Forest Bat Freetail Bat. It is one of a few microbats life of each joey is eight to nine months, although they may continue to suckle hollows are lacking – even sheets of corrugated iron can provide a home for Vespadelus vulturnus whose calls are audible to humans. until 15 months of age. lizards and skinks! V – Vulnerable PG Known across the Slopes to Summit Found right across the Slopes to Summit region preferring areas of dense Gliders in a nest Box. SM Nest box at Thurgoona. MLLS ■ ■ ■ • Diversity of habitats is the key! E – Endangered region. vegetation.