The Chestnut Dunnart, Sminthopsis Archeri (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), a New Species from the Savannahs of Papua New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula, Australia

THE CHESTNUT DUNNART, SMINTHOPSIS ARCHERI (MARSUPIALIA: DASYURIDAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM THE SAVANNAHS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND CAPE YORK PENINSULA, AUSTRALIA

Stephen Van D yck

Van Dyck, S., 1986. The Chestnut Dunnart, Sminthopsis archeri (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), a new species from the savannahs of Papua New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Aust. Mammal. 9: 111-124. Sminthopsis archeri sp. nov. is described from the mixed savannahs of south­ western Papua New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula, Australia. This medium-sized species has clearly defined striate apical granules on the intcrdigital hindfoot pads and characteristic development of the metastylar comer of the fifth upper molars. The phenctic affinities of S. archeri lie with the S. macrouro species group and with S. butleri in particular. The historic problems associated with the identification of this species are outlined and some solutions proposed. Key words: Sminthopsis archeri. dunnart, Papua New Guinea, Cape York Peninsula, dasyurid. Stephen Van Dyck. Queensland Museum. Gregory Terrace. Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland Australia 4006. Manuscript received 15 November, 1985.

THE genus Sminthopsis is renowned for its only one species, S. virginiae (Ziegler 1977, turbulent taxonomic history. At least 30 Archer 1981). nominate species have been described [half of which are no longer recognised (Archer In 1979, J. Waithman published results 1981) ] and the rate at which reappraisal of of a mammal survey undertaken in the the genus proceeds is reflected in the des­ Trans-Fly Plains of southwestern Papua cription of at least six new species within New Guinea during 1972-1973. Part of this the last few years (McKenzie and Archer collection included 17 Sminthopsis speci­ 1982, Kitchener et al. 1984, Baverstock mens of an indeterminable species trapped et al 1984). Seventeen species of Smin­ at Morehead and Mibini. In 1980, J. Winter thopsis (subgenus Sminthopsis) are current­ and R. Atherton conducted a survey of the ly recognised, but this count is unlikely to Weipa area, Cape York Peninsula. At remain stable under the growing influence Mapoon (Fig. 1), Atherton trapped a single of isozyme electrophoresis and the escala­ adult male Sminthopsis distinctly smaller tion of fauna surveying throughout the and less colourful than S. virginiae which continent. was abundant in the same dry, open, grassy woodland. Acting on Atherton’s find, A. Australian dunnarts occupy habitats Kerle and R. Whitford trapped at the same ranging from highland tropical rain forest locality in June 1981, where they collected (Van Dyck 1985) to arid grasslands and an adult male and an adult female (Fig. 2) deserts (Aslin 1983, Burbidgc et al. 1983, of this same smallish, drab form. Morton 1983, McKenzie 1983). In Papua Since Waithman's initial collection of this New Guinea the genus occurs only in Sminthopsis, it has been generally assumed savannah-type habitats of the southwest that the New Guinea and Mapoon speci­ and up until now has been represented by mens represented Sminthopsis butleri 112 AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY

(Taylor 1984. Van Dyck 1985, Thompson distinct species and it is described here as 1985, Archer 1983 for photograph of Whit- Sminthnpsis archeri. ford’s Mapoon female). However it is now clear that these specimens represent a Specimens mentioned here arc lodged in the collections of the Queensland Museum (prefixed J or JM); National Museum and Art Gallery. Papua New Guinea (PNGM); Museum of Victoria. Donald Thompson Collection (DTC); British Museum (Natural History) (BM); Western Austra­ lian Museum (M; Butler Collection, B). Terminology of cranial, external and dental morphology follows Archer (1981). Tooth number follows Archer (1978).

SYSTEMATIC^ Sminthopsis archeri sp. nov. (Fig. 3, Table I) Holoiype. PNGM 1663, adult male, dry skin, skull and dentaries, collected 30 July, 1973 by J. Waithman. Type Locality. Morehead, Trans-Fly Plains. Papua New Guinea 8°41'S, 141°39'E. Paratypes (see Table 2). Fig. I. Map of collection localities of 5mm- rhopsis arclieri in Papua New Guinea and Diagnosis. External: A medium-sized Australia. species of Sminthopsis that differs extem-

Fig. 2. Adult female Sminthopsis (probably S. archeri) trapped at Mapoon. Cape York Peninsula by R. Whitford and A. Kerlc (see text). The animal escaped from captivity. Photo: R. Whitford. VAN DYCK: SMINTHOPStS ARCHER!. A NEW DASYURID 113

VCCINU sex 10C Bl 7U 10 • • i d « . U £ p L J (*>•<■ ) | I - * 1 l , - ^ [j-COed HB p n TV Hf I

m m i m j (n o lo ) N m e 7 4 .a 1 4 .4 4 .6 4 .1 9 .6 7 .1 2 .4 0 . 1 1.4 4 .2 11 .4 20 .7 1 .4 4 .6 107 97 19 14 V H * \( M N m z 2 4 .4 14.1 4 .0 4 .9 9 .6 6 .9 2 .7 0 . 0 2 .4 4 .1 11 .4 2 0 .0 1.1 4 .4 104 a* 19 19 W 10401 N 2 4 .9 14 .7 4 .9 4 .0 9 .2 6 .9 2 .1 0 . 0 1 .4 4 .1 11.1 20.1 1.1 4 .6 *114 100 19 19 PM * 10403 M m . 2 4 .4 14 .0 4 .9 4 . a 9 .4 *.B 2 .4 1 2 .9 1 .1 4.1 1 1 .1 1 9 .4 1.1 4 .6 100 94 19 18 P « N 10104 n MK 24.1 1 4 .4 4 .4 4 .0 9 .7 7 .1 2 .4 0 . 2 1 .4 4 .2 - - - - 101 97 19 19

J 1740 n KLt 0 . 4 4 .9 - 4 .4 9 . 0 6 .6 2.4 1 2 .6 1 .0 4 .2 1 0 .9 1 8 .6 2 .9 4 .7 - - •

* 4011 N AUS 2 1 .6 0 . 4 4 .4 4 .2 9 .6 6 .2 7.6 1 1 .9 2 .6 5 .2 1 0 .2 1 7 .0 2 .1 4 .7 • « . .

WtGN 10407 M r tn m . . wO 104 20 19

PUS* 10404 N n r . • • 96 42 ia 16 m m 1 0 4 0 7 w . *=* A ) ' ' - = « ^ . n p * * 106 9C 20 16 • A 104(0 * n r . - - - 0 G \ y - - 104 90 20 19 WGN 10409 H m z - - - - - 99 91 16 19

m m 10406 r m z 22 .6 o . a 4 .J 4 .4 9 .9 6 .6 2 .2 12.1 1 .1 4 .1 1 0 .4 1 9 .0 2 . 9 4 . 4 61 62 17 16 WOB 146? r n t 2 1 .2 0 . 6 4 . 4 4 .1 9 . 7 6 . 7 2 .0 1 2 .1 1 .1 4 .2 1 0 .7 1 9 .1 2 . 9 4 .4 94 97 19 17

W 10410 < * . ) r n c 20.1 1 1 .9 4 .1 i . a 7 . 7 6 . 0 .7 - - - 1 0 .4 1 6 .1 - 4 .9 70 67 17 14

Table 1. Measurements for holotype and paratvpes of Sminthnpsis archeri. Abbreviations as follows: BL, basicranial length; ZW zygomatic width; 10, interorbital width (measured dorsallv); R-LC, width of rostrum outside right and left upper canines; R-LM’n width of skull (s) outside left and right upper second molars (see Fig. 5); R-LM*„ width of skull between left and right upper second molars (m) (sec Fig. 5); (s)-(m) measure of inflation of maxillary bones (see Fig. 5); HB. head-body length; TV, tail-vent length; HF, hindfoot length; E, ear length; • measurement taken from dry study skin.

' ----- ~ ■ girrH Fjrnjj* 'S U P 'L t o r ______’Trcuratlon

a d u lt P ttriahead P.X.0. J. Uaithnan Pui»*t akin and akull extracted

FW2M 1644 a d u lt H Xotahaad P.N.C. 31 July 1974 J . M U ttn an Puppet akin and akull extracted

PNCN 10401 a d u lt H Norehead P.N.C. 22 Auq 1973 H. Parnaby Puppet a^la and akull extracted

P1CM 10402 a d u lt X Itorohead P.N.C. 10 Sept 1971 II. Parnaby Puppet akin [••akull daatroyed’l

P7KH 10401 a d u lt r Norohc.id P.N.C. 12 Sept 1971 H. Parnaby Puppet akin ard akull aatractad

PUCK 10404 a d u lt N Nor ahead P.N.0. 17 Sept 1974 N. Parnaby Puppet akin and akull aatractad [no dantary)

PNOM 10404 a d u lt X Noreheed P.N.C. 10 Oct 1971 N. Parnaby I n eth a n o l

PNCN 10406 a d u lt r Mj [ahead P.N.C. 9 O ct 1971 X. Parnaby In ethanol with akull aatractad

PXGN 10407 a d u lt X Mot ah ead P .N .C . 9 O ct 1971 H. Parnaby •n eth a n o l

PNCN 10409 a d u lt X Norohcad P.N.C. 9 O ct 1971 N. Parnaby l a eth a n o l

PXCN 10409 a d u lt X Itorohaad P.N.C. 9 O ct 1971 H. Parnaby In eth a n o l

PUGH 10410 J u v e n ile r Niblnl P.N.0. 22 Oct 1971 N. Parnaby In ethanol vlth akull aatractad

JN 4011 a d u lt X Napoon Auat. 9 Sept 19«3 H. Atherton, J. Xintar In ethanol with akull aatractad

In athanol with akull aatractad J1740 a d u lt X Capa Tort Pan. Si Xar 1914 unknoan a u a t.

o re i n ,**-adultrj Uwer Archer N. 21 Xar 1911 Donald T7.aapaon In eth a n o l

o re l i e a d u lt r Capa Tort Pan. 1 Apr 1911 Donald TtKapeon In a th a n o l A u a t. 2 • Tw atyru of atinthapata archeri

• Taken fr a field note# of X. Parnaby * Aeglitration date [not UM Willy Table 2. Paratvpes of S. archeri. collection data) 114 AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY

Fig. .?. S. archeri, skull and dentary of holotype PNGM 1663. Scale in mm. ally from S. murina, S. dolichura, S. grise- smaller and lacking rufous checks. Differs oventer. S. gilberti, S. aitkeni, S. ooldea, externally from S. longicaudata in having S. granulipes, S. psammophila, S. butleri, S. a tail that is less than twice the nose-vent hiriipes, S. macroura, S. crassicaudata and length. Differs externally from S. douglasi S. youngsoni in having the apical granules in being much smaller and lacking an of the non-fused intcrdigital pads of the incrassatcd tail. Externally S. archeri hindfoot large, oval and striate. Differs probably indistinguishable from S. leucopus externally from 5. virginiae in being much except for possession in S. archeri of VAN DYCK: SMINTHOPSIS ARCHER!, A NEW DASYURID 115

Fig. 4. Characteristic 90* angle (arrowed) made between post protocrista and lingual profile of enamel below metastylar comer of M* in Sminthopsis archeri. Specimen photographed PNGM 1662 (adult female).

prominent eye-rings, tan-brown pelage and L-RM2 l-R M 2 “Roman-nosed” appearance. Dental and Cranial: Sminthopsis archeri distinguishable from all other members of the genus by morphology of M5 (Fig. 4). In occlusal view the angle made between the postprotocrista and the lingual profile of enamel below the metastylar corner is close to 90° (rather than the normal con­ dition of 135°). In many cases this is due to the wide angle (close to 90°) between the paracrista and the postparacrista (normally approximately 45°). Additional cranial and dental differences as follows: S. archeri differs from all except S. virginiae, S. douglasi and S. butleri in possessing greatly inflated maxillary bones between the infraorbital foramen and the A B maxillary - lachrymal - zygomatic junction. This gives a brachycephalic appearance to the skull best reflected by the measure of Fig. 5. Method of measuring the greatly that difference between the skull width inflated maxillary bones between infraorbital from outside left and right M-' and the width foramen and maxillary-lachrymal-zygomatic junc­ tion from outside right and left upper second between right and left M- (Fig. 5, Table 1). molars in "broad-faced" species, e.g. Sminthopsis Sminthopsis archeri distinguished from S. archeri (A ), and "narrow-faced” species, e.g. S. virginiae and S. douglasi by being much leucopus (B). 116 AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY smaller-bodied and lacking cntoconids. (almost colourless) hairs. Hindfeet more Differs further from S. buileri in having thickly covered with darker Chamois hairs. upper molars labio-lingually compressed and Tail weakly bicoloured with hairs averaging talonid of M» greatly reduced. 1.5 mm along its length and increasing to 4 mm at its tip. Dorsally. hairs of tail Description. This broad-faced, Roman­ uniform Tawny Olive with Fuscous Black nosed dunnart (Fig. 2) is distinctive in its tips. Vcntrally, black tips lost completely rich, chestnut-tan tonings, very short-haired and overall colour is Snuff. (appearing almost naked), non-incrassated tail and distinctive eye-rings. There is Vihrissae. Approximately 20 mystacial considerable variation in the depth of vibrissae occur on each side and are up to tonings and specimens in ethanol fade badly 18 mm long. More dorsal mystacial vib­ with time. Median head-stripes vary from rissae coloured Fuscous Black while those a definite, thin streaK to a broad patch. lower are colourless; supraorbital vibrissae (Fuscous Black) number two (left) and Pelage: Colours (after Ridgway 1912) three (right); gcnals (Fuscous Black and for holotypc arc as follows; fur of mid-back colourless) number six (left) and five (right); (7 mm long) with basal 4 mm Slate Color, ulna-carpals (colourless) number three each median 2 mm Tawny Olive, apical 1 mm side; submcntals (colourless) number five. black. Back appears overall Olive-Brown. Medially-thickened Fuscous Black spines Tail. Tail slightly shorter than nose- (guard hairs) interspersed thinly through vent length. Thin ami tapers toward tip. the fur 8 mm long on the rump and reduce to 4 mm where they terminate at the crown Hindfoot. Intcrdigital pads separate. of the head. Fur on and below the Apical granule enlarged, elongate and shoulders, thighs, flanks and chin lacks striate. Enlarged halluca! granule present black tips or coarse guard hairs and these on both feet. Metatarsal granules not visible areas and the belly appear Cream Buff to in holotype (on paratypes in ethanol they Chamois. are generally visible). Hair on foot covers heel and extends diagonally across foot. Holotype lacks distinct head-stripe, but Terminal pads of digits also striate (Fig. light areas immediately above each eye-ring 6). leave the impression of a dark head “patch”. A distinct eye-ring results first Ears. Ears large with curled external from an intense darkening of the eyelid skin edge on supratragus. Fawn hairs on postero­ (similar to the dark pigmentation of the internal and ventral margins of pinnae. scrotal skin) and secondly from the dark Nipple number. Paratypes PNGM hairs which surround the eye. A narrow 10406 and DTC 338 arc only specimens band of short, black, eyelash-hairs with visible nipples. PNGM 10406, collected completely encircles eye. Under anterior 8 October, 1973, had five of eight nipples corner of each eye a small patch of dark well developed. (Collection notes by H. hairs sweeps to midway along bottom of Parnaby state five young present in pouch eyelid, making eye-ring appear darker. of PNGM 10406 when captured). DTC Remainder of fur under eye is light fawn 338. collected 3 April, 1933, had eight well- (Cream-Buff). The soft ventral fur (6 mm developed nipples. Another collection note long on belly and 4 mm long on interramal written by J. Waithman states puppet skin region) is Mouse Gray on basal half and PNGM 1662 collected 24 July, 1973 had Warm Buff on apical half and interspersed eight young, each approximately 8 mm long by Cream-Buff medially-thickened spines 7 in pouch. Thompson (1985) noted six mm long. Belly is overall Chamois. Fore­ nipples in one specimen from Cape York feet thinly covered with Ivory Yellow Peninsula (DTC 339). VAN DYCK: SMINTHOPSlS ARCHER!, A NEW DASYURID 117

Fig. 6. Hindfoot of Sminthopsis archeri showing enlarged, elongate, striate apical granules of interdigital pads. Specimen photographed PNOM 10409 (adult male). Scale in mm.

Dentition (Fig. 3). Upper Incisors: I1 protoconule accompanied by small bulge of narrow, peg-like, non-procumbent and enamel directly below it on face of anterior relatively uncurved, taller-crowned than all protocrista. Paracone on M- approximately upper incisors and separated by diastema half height of metacone. Stylar cusp C not from I-. Left and right I1 widely separated. visible on either LM- or RM*. stylar cusp For I- ‘ crown height and length subequal E visible. M-’ lacks posterior cingulum. in Is and I4. I3 slightly greater in crown In Ms broad anterior cingulum, which height and length than I-. All upper contacts mctastylar corner of M'J, tapers incisors lack buccal cingula yet no lack of quickly as it progresses down and along base differentiation between root and crown. I4 of paracrista and finally degenerates labially carries no anterior cusp but miniscule to base of paracone apex. No protoconule posterior cusp present. Roots of I4 wide. visible. M3 lacks stylar cusp A, C and E. Upper Canines: C' slender and canini- Stylar cusp D reduced, narrow and there form with indistinct boundary between root is no posterior cingulum. and crown. Very weak buccal cingulum, In M4 anterior cingulum broader and no lingual cingulum. Minute anterior cusp longer than in M \ becomes indistinct after present as well as minute posterior cusp. covering 2/3 distance between stylar cusp Upper Premoiars: Diastcmac between Cl B and base of paracone. No evidence of and P \ P1 and P- and P- and P3. All upper anterior cingulum at base of paracone and premolars carry weak buccal and weak no protoconule or enamel bulge. Stylar lingual cingula. Crown height of P1 < P2 cusp D reduced to very small, sharp peak. < Pa. Small but clearly definable anterior Stylar cusp E absent, but stylar cusp C and posterior cusps on P‘ and P3. No upper weakly present. premolars possess postero-lingual lobes. In M3 metastylar corner grossly devel­ Upper Molars: Posterior tip of P3 in oped. Broad anterior cingulum terminates parastylar corner of M- but lingual to and quickly away from metastylar corner of M4 well below stylar cusp A. Anterior cingulum and posterior cingulum is absent. Protocone below stylar cusp D short, broad and much reduced and narrow. In occlusal view complete. Stylar cusp B and paracone angle made between postprotocrista and relatively unworn and minute protoconule lingual profile of enamel below metastylar present at base of paracone apex. Minute corner close to 90 (Fig. 4). 118 AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY Lower Incisors: First lower incisor sub- conid. Hypocristid terminates midway equal in crown height to I2. Ii and I_. oval between hypoconid and metastylid. No in anterolateral view and gouge-like in entoconid. From base of metaconid pos­ occlusal view. I2 subequal in crown height teriorly, talonid endoloph follows line of to I3. I3 prcmolariform in lateral view with dentary until base of hypoconulid. conspicuous posterior cusp at base of crest which descends posteriorly from apex of In M3, trigonid slightly wider than primary cusp. Lower canine rests against talonid. Anterior cingulum very poorly this posterior cusp. In occlusal view, a small developed terminating lingually in weak notch separates posterior cusp from parastylid notch into which hypoconulid of prominent posterolingual lobe and crown Ma is tucked. No buccal cingulum. Narrow, enamel of primary and posterior cusps folds weak posterior cingulum extends from noticeable lingually such that the crest of hypoconulid to posterior base of hypoconid. the two cusps bisects tooth longitudinally. Paraconid well developed and smallest trigonid cusp. Metastylid and minute ento­ Lower Canines: Ci prcmolariform and conid subequal in height but both very characterised by forward, incisor-like poorly developed. Cristid obliqua extends projection and minimal curvature from root from hypoconulid to posterior wall of to crown tip. It has weak buccal and lingual trigonid intersecting trigonid at point cingulation and a weak posterior cusp. directly below tip of protoconid but well buccal to metacristid fissure. Hypocristid Lower Premolars: Pj-a evenly and extends from slightly anterior and buccal moderately widely spaced, weakly cingu- to hypoconulid to tip of hypoconid. From lated buccally and lingually. Crown height base of metaconid posteriorly, endoloph P.i > Pa > Pi* All premolars narrow and follows line of dentary axis. elongate. All possess posterior cusps, none possess anterior cusps. Bulk of each In M,, trigonid wider than talonid. prcmolar mass concentrated anteriorly to Prominent parastylid wraps around hypo­ line drawn transversely through middle of conulid of M3, a weak anterior cingulum on the two premolar roots. In holotype PNGM M(. Buccal and posterior cingula as in Mj 1663 RPj and LP., are missing. Deep, but more poorly developed. Reduced cristid abnormal, vertical groove present on lingual obliqua intersects trigonid at point well side of posterior cusp of RP2. Posterolingual lingual to longitudinal vertical midline lobes not a feature of lower prcmolars. drawn through tip of protoconid, but slightly buccal to metacristid fissure. No Lower Molars: All molars narrow. M2 entoconid on M,. Endoloph on talonid of talonid wider than trigonid and anterior M< takes more buccal orientation than that cingulum present but poorly developed. It seen in Ms* Rest of M* morphology as in terminates at posterior base of protoconid. Ms except that a small crest runs down No buccal cingulum. Narrow paraconid from hypoconulid to beginning of appears in occlusal view as small steeply- hypocristid. sided spur, lingual edge of which makes no appreciable swelling on endoloph of M2. In M.-„ trigonid wider than talonid. An­ Paracristid is almost 45° to horizontal from terior cingulum as in M8. Posterior cingulum paraconid to paracristid fissure and vertical absent. Of three main trigonid cusps, meta­ from paracristid fissure to protoconid. conid slightly taller than paraconid but Mctacristid roughly oblique to long axis of both are dwarfed by protoconid. Hypoconid dentary while hypocristid perpendicular. of M.-, talonid similar in size to M«. Cristid obliqua very short and extends from Between hypoconid and base of metacristid, hypoconid to posterior wall of trigonid cristid obliqua forms low, weak crest which intersecting trigonid at point slightly lingual degenerates before contacting trigonid wall. to that point directly below tip of proto­ A significant feature of M5 morphology is VAN DYCK: SMINTHOPSIS ARCHER!. A NEW DASYURID 119 reduction of talonid crown enamel below been forced into a lingual position) but cristid obliqua which results in talonid lacks an anterior cusp. LPa normal. [This appearing (in occlusal view) as narrow condition almost identical to that described oblique spur jutting off trigonid wall. for an adult male S. leucopus from Kool- moon Falls, northeastern Queensland (Van Skull (Fig. 3): Sminthopsis archeri is Dyck 1985)]. In J 1740, rostrum shows the one of the “Roman-nosed” dunnarts (others doming, “ Roman-nose”, characteristic of include S. virginiae, S. butleri, S. douglasi) this species to an exaggerated extent. In which have a deep rostrum and lack a PNGM 10403 LI4 absent, there is no root dorsal depression at the nasal-frontal and alveolus has completely closed. PNGM sutures. Broad zygomata give a brachy- 10401 exhibits minute but sharp entoconid cephalic appearance. Sagittal and nuchal on LMa (although absent on RMa). In crests well developed. Rostrum grooved PNGM 1664, right and left hypoconulids longitudinally by a depression running along excessively developed resulting in a high- nasal sutures. One lachrymal foramen on crowned spur. RP1 three-rooted with extra the right side of orbital rim and two on left. root buccal and between normal two roots. Left and right alisphenoid tympanic bullae Resultant cingulated bulge of enamel blends widely separated and only moderately with the rest of crown enamel. Minute, enlarged. The foramen pseudovale small broken, erupted, isolated root projects from and bisected by a bridge of alisphenoid. maxilla immediately anterior to extra root Eustachean canal opening large. Internal of RP1 and immediately behind RC1. jugular canal foramina large; canals raised and prominent. Posterior lacerate foramina Pelage: Quality of head stripe depends large and exposed as arc cntocarotid fora­ on height above eye at which black tips of mina. Premaxillary vacuity extends from hairs begin to be reduced and eventually level of I- root back to level of posterior lost. A highly variable feature in S. archeri. edge of Cl root. Very small maxillary In some specimens, stripe completely absent vacuities extend from level of protocone (e.g. PNGM 10402, PNGM 1663); in some root of M- back to level of protocone root a clearly defined narrow stripe (e.g. PNGM of M \ Palatine vacuities extend from level 1664, PNGM 10401); and in others blackish of stylar cusp B on M \ appearance of the stripe covers entire head (e.g. PNGM 10404). Dark tan colour of two Variation in paratypes. Dental: In New Guinea specimens broken by white PNGM 10410 Mi double-rooted and most spots; PNGM 10402 shows white spot significant cusp is protoconid. Other (maximum diameter 4 mm) on each hip and features of M, include small cusp homo­ PNGM 10403 shows small white spot on logous to paraconid, lingual bulge homo­ left rear leg. logous to metaconid, minute postero-buccal cusp homologous to hypoconulid and an­ In ethanol specimens delicate Chamois terior to this a minute bulge homologous to (fawn) of belly hairs completely bleachcd- hypoconid. M1 three-rooted, most significant out, leaving hairs white. There is a corres­ cusp being mctaconc. Other features include ponding bleaching of browns from dorsal minute cusp homologous to paracone and fur which results in black guard hairs minute bulge on postcrobuccal enamel — appearing reddish-brown. Ultimate example probably homologous to stylar cusp D. A of bleaching found in J 1740 which has long metacrista the only significant cutting been in spirit since 1914 (possibly before crest on tooth. In JM 4011, lower premolars 1887). Most of fur completely bleached more crowded than in holotype and an except for part of dorsal fur which is a abnormal, single-rooted RP* small and peg­ non-descript reddish-brown. like, having no anterior root. It possesses Hindfeet: While all hindfeet examined a well-developed posterior cusp (which has possessed halucal granules, the presence of 120 AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY

Fig. 7. Smimhnpsis archeri habitat “Jump Up Camp". Mapoon (12*0I'S 141#53'H) Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Specimen JM 4011 collected here. Photo: R. Atherton.

metatarsal granules occurred in four of monsoonal climate where 75% of annual eight spirit specimens. Their presence in rainfall (1682 mm for Morehcad) falls dried skins was generally impossible to during a wet season lasting from December determine. Most specimens showed enlarge­ to May (Paijmans et al. 1971). ment of one or two granules adjacent to The habitat type. ‘Tall-mixed Savannah” either extremity of the prominent striated (Paijmans et al. 1971, plate 11. fig. 1) occurs apical granule on each interdigital pad. on well- to imperfectly-drained soils that Reproduction. New Guinea specimens are not flooded during the rainy season. PNOM 1662 and PNGM 10406 have rela­ Trees average 21 m in height but some tively newly bom pouch young Tthis grow as high as 32 m. Most common species assumes growth rates approximate to those include Tristania suaveolans and Melaleuca given for S. marina by Fox and Whitford ca/aputi. Less common species include (1982)]. Births probably occurred in July Xanthostemon crenulatus, Acacia man- (collection date 24 July, 1973) and gium, Melaleuca symphyocarpa, M. leuca- Scptember-October (collection date 8 dendron and Dillenia alata. An open shrub October. 1973) respectively. A juvenile layer 1.5-3.6 m high contains Acacia female specimen PNGM 10410 collected leptocarpa. Choriceras tricorne, Melastoma 22 October, 1973 (headbody = 70 mm, poly ant hum. Acacia simsii and species of tail-vent — 67 mm) was probably born Rhodamnia, Timonius, Glochidion, Leea approximately 80 days earlier in August, and Cordyline. The ground cover consists 1973. of hnperata cylindrica, Pseudopogona- therum viritans, Arundinella repalensis, Habitat. Specimens of S. archeri from Setaria surgens and Schizaea dichotoma New Guinea were pit-trapped in tall, mixed (Paijmans et al 1971). savannah at two localities: Morehcad 8 4 PS, 141 39'E (14 specimens) and Mibini Specimens from Mapoon. Australia were 8 50'S. 141 38'E (three specimens) (Waith- trapped in Tall Woodland of Stringybark man 1979). These areas experience a on red earth soils of the laterite-bauxitc VAN DYCK: SMINTHOPSIS ARCHER!, A NEW DASYURID 121 plateau (Fig. 7). Soils are red earth (North- ducing the Morehead-Kiunga area noted cote classification (Northcote et al. 1975) its uniqueness “. . . in the Territory of GN2.I1 GH2.I4 UM6.14; some UC5 and Papua New Guinea for its wideness and UC5 soils being included); their internal flatness . . . [The] landscape strongly resem­ drainage is excessive with little or no bles that of coastal and adjacent areas of evidence of surface runoff. Horizons range northern Australia. The predominance of in thickness from 5-80 cm while the soil tea-tree or paperbark (Melaleuca spp.) and profile is usually deeper than 150 cm. Soils the commonness of termitaria strengthen are slightly to strongly acid throughout. the similarity”. This land unit is the source of commercial Almost half the mammals from the bauxite. The vegetation is Grassy Tall savannahs of Cape York Peninsula arc rep­ Woodland (often layered) or Grassy Wood­ resented in southern Papua New Guinea land in more favoured areas; the prevailing and it comes as no surprise that Sminthopsis structure is Tall Open Forest. Canopy archeri should also be found on either side species include Erythophloeum chloro- of Torres Strait. What is surprising, how­ (dominant), Erythophloeum chlorostachys ever, is the insight its discovery on Cape and Eucalyptus mesophyta. Eucalyptus York provides to an assault waged on Old­ polycarpa is absent from this unit. (Canopy field Thomas by Ellis Troughton in the mid statistics: density 158 stems per ha, height 1960’s. 29 m, diameter at breast height 50 cm and projected foliage cover 15%). Understorey In his “Catalogue of Marsupialia and species include Erythoplhoeum chloro­ Monotremata”, Thomas (1888) provided stachys, Parinari monda. Planchonia careya, measurements for an adult male “S. Grevillia parallela, G. glauca, Coelo- leucopus" from Cape York and proposed spermum reticulatum and Acacia rothi. that, on the basis of its clearly striated foot Syzigium suborbiculare is generally absent pads, the species’ range extended from Cape from this unit. Ground cover consists of York to Tasmania. Thomas made a foot Heteropogon triticeus (M. Godwin, pers. note (:303) that the Cape York specimen comm.). was “ Belonging to the Brisbane Museum and kindly lent me for examination by Mr Etymology. Sminthopsis archeri is named De Vis” (Thomas provided no identifying in honour of Dr Michael Archer in recog­ registration numbers). Almost 80 years later nition of his contribution to the understand­ Troughton (1964), in somewhat stinging ing of the genus Sminthopsis and moreover form, used “preposterous” and “phenomen­ in acknowledgement of his prodigious con­ al” to describe Thomas’ ascribed range to tributions to mammalogy in Australia. S. leucopus. Troughton considered it obvious that of all the specimens available, Thomas had used the Cape York specimen DISCUSSION to illustrate the hindfoot morphology of The shared faunal components of Cape S. leucopus. Troughton synonymised S. York Peninsula and the lower Fly River — murina and S. leucopus and asserted that Port Moresby areas arc well documented the striate condition of pads in some speci­ (Shodde and Calaby 1972, Ziegler 1977, mens (i.e. S. leucopus) was the result of Kikkawa et al. 1981, George 1984). Lea the wearing down of the apical row of (1973) noted that the Oriomo Plateau granules. He concluded that because of the (southwestern Papua New Guinea), unlike distinct, striate condition of the illustrated the rest of the island, was geologically old animal’s foot pads, Thomas had “. . . mis­ and stable and was an extension of ancient applied the description and figure of the Australian continental rocks which under­ sole pads of a ‘Cape York’ specimen of lie the shallow waters of Torres Strait. Paij- S. lumholtzi [= S. virginiae] to his descrip­ mans (Paijmans et al. 1971: 12) in intro­ tion of S. leucopus 122 AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY

Troughton noted that the Cape York located, but another specimen JM 4011 specimen could not be traced either in the collected at the same Mapoon locality and British Museum or the Queensland Museum initially identified as S. butleri has been from where it was borrowed. However a examined and is now referred to S. archeri. search has now revealed a Cape York It seems very likely that the Archer (1983) specimen in the Queensland Museum which specimen was also S. archeri. Four spirit answers to the description of the specimen specimens of S. butleri from the Donald in question. J 1740 (registered 23 March, Thompson Collection (Museum of Victoria) 1914) is accessed as "Sminthopsis leucopsis, taken from the Lower Archer River, Cape Gray Rockhampton, Cape York Qld”. A York Peninsula in 1933 have also been marginal note for J 1740 says “Determined examined and all reassigned to S. archeri. by O. Thomas”. The case for the Cape Two other specimens in doubt are those York specimen is more convincing when collected by A. S. Meek on 22 July, 1898 the Queensland Museum register accession and lodged in the British Museum (Natural following J 1740 is then considered; J 1741 History). P. D. Jenkins [Mammal Section “Phascogale apicalis det. by O. Thomas” BM (NH)] has kindly examined these two (two juveniles in spirit with no locality specimens (BM 1939.3243 and BM 1939. information). Thomas’ (1888: 278) footnote 3245) for me and noted the following (2 regarding these specimens reads “. . . and April, 1985: “The hindfeet of 39.3243 and two young specimens from Queensland sent 39.3245 are dried and so not easy to to me for determination by Mr De Vis, examine. The apical granules on the inter- appear certainly to belong to it”. It does digital pads are elongated and striated (more not seem unreasonable to assume that these obviously on 39.3243 than 39.3245) but three specimens sent to Thomas in London although the hallucal granule is elongated, were the same specimens referred to in his there are no obvious striae. The teeth of catalogue. 39.3243 show some decalciflcation; an entoconid is present on M2, M3, M4, absent The persistence of the identification on M.%, it is most prominent on Ma and M< puzzle presented by the Cape York speci­ but the entoconids are not as distinct as in men J 1740 is reflected in a note, written figure D of your letter [photograph of poor (probably around 1976) in M. Archer’s hand entoconid development in Antechinus and left with the skull of J 1740 “Cape flavipes rubeculus sec Van Dyck 1982, fig. York, N.Q. S. leuc-S. ruf. small but 21D]. In 39.3245 the entoconid is indistinct enlarged apical granule with striae-skin on M2, Ms and M, and absent on M5. In faded”. both specimens the angle between the post­ What is most significant in this historical protocrista and enamel below the mctastylar data is that J 1740 can now be ascribed to corner in M5 is just over 90’.” This infor­ Sminthopsis archeri; its smallish adult size, mation is sufficient for me to suggest that striate pads, broad zygomata, deep rostrum, these two Meek specimens represent S. Roman nose, characteristic M5 and its lack archeri and not S. butleri or S. virginiae. of distinct entoconids clearly distinguishing In this context, the vernacular “Carpen- it from S. leucopus or S. virginiae. These tarian Dunnart” is probably now inappro­ features suggest that S. archeri has closest priate for S. butleri, which appears to be affinities with the S. macroura group (in confined to northern Western Australia. the sense of Archer 1981) and to S. butleri in particular. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The existence of S butleri on Cape York I gratefully acknowledge the help of the Peninsula is now doubtful. The specimen following for the loan of specimens in their from Mapoon referred to as S. butleri care: J. Menzies (National Museum and and figured in Archer (1983) cannot be Art Gallery, Papua New Guinea), J. Dixon VAN DYCK: SMINTHOPSIS ARCHERI. A NEW DASYURID 123 and L. Huxley (Victoria Museum), D. George, G., 1984. The present day land mammal Kitchener (Western Australian Museum). fauna of Papua New Guinea (revised edition). Pp. 1137-1141 in "Vertebrate zoogeography 1 am especially thankful to P. D. Jenkins and evolution in Australia” cd by M. Archer (British Museum of Natural History) for and G. Clayton. Hesperian Press: Perth. her efforts in London on my behalf. I also thank J. Waithman (Conservation Com­ K ikkawa, J., M onteith, G. B. and I ngram, G., 1981. Cape York Peninsula: major region of mission of the Northern Territory) for faunal interchange. 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