DOCSLIB.ORG

Endangered Long-Nosed Bandicoot Population at North Head the Following Information Is Provided to Area

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Endangered Long-Nosed Bandicoot Population at North Head the Following Information Is Provided to Area ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES Endangered Long-nosed Bandicoot Population at North Head The following information is provided to area. Spotlighting and searching for assist authors of Species Impact signs, such as conical diggings, are Statements, development and activity considered adequate for initial proponents, and determining and consent presence/absence surveys. Trapping and authorities, who are required to prepare radiotracking may be required to confirm or review assessments of likely impacts nesting activity and should only be on threatened species pursuant to the conducted by suitably qualified and provisions of the Environmental experienced people who hold the Planning and Assessment Act 1979. necessary licence under the National These guidelines should be read in Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. conjunction with the NPWS Information Limit of known distribution Circular No. 2: Threatened Species Assessment under the EP&A Act: The ‘8 Potential habitat for the population of Part Test’ of Significance (November Long-nosed Bandicoots occurs on the 1996). area of North Head south of Addison Proponents, consent and determining Road, Manly (Figure 1). authorities should also note that a recovery plan for the Long-nosed Figure 1 Map of Long-nosed Bandicoot population is currently being Bandicoot distribution on North Head prepared. The recovery plan will require (1997 NSW Scientific Committee). that any developments or activities will be assessed in accordance with the recovery plan and these environmental impact assessment guidelines. Development proposals must asses direct and indirect impacts on the bandicoot population and its habitat. Direct impacts can include harm to individual bandicoots, loss, fragmentation of habitat and restriction of access to shelter and foraging areas through barriers/fences. Indirect impacts can include increases in noise and light around nesting or foraging areas and fragmentation and isolation of habitat areas. Survey Survey for development assessment purposes should target areas of potential foraging and shelter habitat and should be performed by a suitably qualified and licensed person. Habtiat includes areas of Life cycle of the species woodland, heath, scrub and open areas such as lawns, playing fields and garden Mating takes place at night and may beds. As Long-nosed bandicoots at North occur throughout the year in the Sydney Head are active all year the timing of the Region, although there is a trough in survey is not crucial. Identification of the breeding activity from late autumn species is quite straight forward as there (April) to mid-winter (June) (Stoddart are no similar species present in the local 1995). At North Head, Scott (1995) Last updated July 2004 recorded Long-nosed Bandicoots “Predation by the European Red Fox breeding from mid winter (June) to (Vulpes vulpes)” is listed as a KTP and is Autumn (March) and found the average identified as a threat to the Long-nosed litter size to be 2.3. Bandicoot. Birth takes place during the daylight In June 2000, 8 bandicoots were killed hours after a gestation of only 12.5 days by a fox at North Head. Subsequent (Stoddart 1995). The young are carried in baiting was successful in removing this the pouch for 50 to 54 days and are then fox. This incident highlights the impact left in the nest. After about 60 days, the one fox can have on the population. young begin to accompany their mother Monitoring of the establishment of foxes and learn to forage for themselves on North Head needs to be vigilant as (Menkhorst and Seebeck 1995). When they are difficult to control given the young are about 50 days old the limitations on predator control mother may mate again and produce techniques in urban areas. another litter several days after the previous one has been weaned (Stoddart “Predation by the Feral Cat (Felis 1995). In good years, females may catus)” is listed as a KTP and is produce up to 4 litters. Female identified as a threat to the Long-nosed bandicoots may begin breeding at about Bandicoot. four months and males around five months (Menkhorst and Seebeck 1995). “Clearing of native vegetation as defined by the Scientific Committee” )” is listed There are insufficient data concerning as a KTP and is identified as a threat to longevity, although individuals have the Long-nosed Bandicoot. been recorded living up to three years in captivity (Lyne 1982) and it is expected Major threats to the North Head that they may live up to two to two and a population include the loss, modification, half years in the wild. degradation and/or fragmentation of suitable habitat and direct impacts to Scott (1995) found that the diet of P. individuals. nasuta at North Head consisted primarily of beetles, larvae, ants, monocot leaf and Whilst there has been a major loss of stem and fungi. habitat over the past 200 years as a result of urbanisation (Manly), the amount of Bandicoots spend the day in a nest, habitat lost in the last 20 years at North usually a shallow hole or depression on Head has been minimal and the majority the surface of the ground which is lined of habitat currently available to with grass and leaves which it scrapes bandicoots is either in National Park, together (Stoddart 1995). These nest can will be added to National Park or is be extremely difficult to locate and the currently having management plans entrance is closed when occupied. At prepared to protect and enhance habitat North Head, bandicoots were observed values. However, there are a number of nesting in a variety of habitat types current development proposals that may including areas of dense shrubs, long result in further loss of small areas of grass, exotic vegetation (pampas grass) habitat. and in residential backyards (Scott 1995, Puddephatt and Miller 1996, Ecotone “High Frequency fire resulting in the Ecological Consultants 1998; NPWS disruption of life cycle processes in 1998). plants and animals and loss of vegetation structutre and compostion” )” is listed as Threatening processes a KTP and is identified as a threat to the Long-nosed Bandicoot. Four Key Threateneing Processes (KTPs) that have been listed under Schedule 3 of the TSC Act 1995 are known to have implications for the Long- nosed Bandicoot population. Last updated July 2004 Other threats, although not listed as the arrival of a fox. The population was KTPs that are likely to imact on the also extremely sensitive to increased Long-nosed Bandicoot include:- adult mortality. S Road mortality. This analysis needs to be repeated and tested with new and more robust S Inbreeding depression. Small information as it becomes available. populations such as the North Head However, it is apparent that the North population are likely to suffer from Head population will remain vulnerable inbreeding depression. There have to stochastic events such as major been no studies of the genetic wildfire, outbreak of disease or variability and health of the establishment of introduced predators population. such as the fox. Contingencies for these situations need to be considered. S Disease. The population could potentially be affected by Significant area of habitat toxoplasmosis. The protozoan The amount of available habitat for parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a well breeding and foraging seems to be the recognised cause of disease and main limiting factor affecting the mortality in Australian marsupials. In distribution of the Long-nosed Bandicoot Australia, Toxoplasma is a parasite population at North Head. Therefore all of the introduced cat. There is a known or potential habitat is considered substantial population of domestic significant. Areas identified as high cats adjacent to North Head and feral value bandicoot habitat should not be cats are occasionally trapped by further fragmented or isolated through NPWS staff. There have been no development. Movement of bandicoots studies completed of the incidence of between habitat areas should not be toxoplasmosis at North Head. further restricted by development and Viable local population corridors between bandicoot habitat and Sydney Harbour National Park should be Systematic monitoring of the North Head retained and where possible enhanced. population by the NPWS began in 1998. This monitoring indicates that the At North Head, Long-nosed Bandicoots population has remained relatively stable occupy to varying degrees all of the between 1998 and 2002 (Banks & Powell habitat types available including 2002), however, has not been able to woodlands, scrub, heath and open areas. determine the population size with any certainty. A comprehensive populaton Isolation and fragmentation census co-ordinated by the NPWS in The Long-nosed Bandicoot population at May 2002, indicated that the population North Head is currently isolated. It is consists of around 100 animals, assuming extremely unlikely that this population that 80% of the population was sampled interacts with other bandicoot (Banks & Hayward 2002), which is populations in the Sydney area. Any consistent with the population estimate further fragmentation of the population at provided in the Scientifc Committee’s North Head is likely be detrimental to its final determination for the continued existence. population.This census was repeated in May 2004 (Banks& Lenehan 2004) and Adequacy of representation the results indicated that the population in conservation reserves had apparently increased to between 130 and 160 animals. The North Head bandicoot population occupies approximately 260 hectares of Population viability analysis for the woodland, heath, scrub and open habitats population (Banks 2000, 2004) indicates across North Head and has also been that the North Head bandicoot population recorded occupying some of the 100 had a 10% chance of going extinct within hectares of highly modified habitats in 20 years due due chance events such as residential areas. Ninety percent (160ha Last updated July 2004 NP, 75ha Sydney Harbour Federation habitat; these corridors should be as Trust lands out of 260ha) of this habitat wide as possible and include dense is under the control of the NPWS or is ground cover to provide shelter from being managed primarily for predators; conservation purposes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • BANDICOTA INDICA, the BANDICOOT RAT 3.1 The
    CHAPTER THREE BANDICOTA INDICA, THE BANDICOOT RAT 3.1 The Living Animal 3.1.1 Zoology Rats and mice (family Muridae) are the most common and well-known rodents, not only of the fi elds, cultivated areas, gardens, and storage places but especially so of the houses. Though there are many genera and species, their general appearance is pretty the same. Rats are on average twice as large as mice (see Chapter 31). The bandicoot is the largest rat on the Indian subcontinent, with a body and head length of 30–40 cm and an equally long tail; this is twice as large as the black rat or common house rat (see section 3.1.2 below). This large size immediately distinguishes the bandicoot from other rats. Bandicoots have a robust form, a rounded head, large rounded or oval ears, and a short, broad muzzle. Their long and naked scaly tail is typical of practically all rats and mice. Bandicoots erect their piles of long hairs and grunt when excited. Bandicoots are found practically on the whole of the subcontinent from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, including Sri Lanka, but they are not found in the deserts and the semi-arid zones of north-west India. Here, they are replaced by a related species, the short-tailed bandicoot (see section 3.1.2 below). The bandicoot is essentially parasitic on man, living in or about human dwellings. They cause a lot of damage to grounds and fl oorings because of their burrowing habits; they also dig tunnels through bricks and masonry.
    [Show full text]
  • Ba3444 MAMMAL BOOKLET FINAL.Indd
    Intot Obliv i The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia Compiled by James Fitzsimons Sarah Legge Barry Traill John Woinarski Into Oblivion? The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia 1 SUMMARY Since European settlement, the deepest loss of Australian biodiversity has been the spate of extinctions of endemic mammals. Historically, these losses occurred mostly in inland and in temperate parts of the country, and largely between 1890 and 1950. A new wave of extinctions is now threatening Australian mammals, this time in northern Australia. Many mammal species are in sharp decline across the north, even in extensive natural areas managed primarily for conservation. The main evidence of this decline comes consistently from two contrasting sources: robust scientifi c monitoring programs and more broad-scale Indigenous knowledge. The main drivers of the mammal decline in northern Australia include inappropriate fi re regimes (too much fi re) and predation by feral cats. Cane Toads are also implicated, particularly to the recent catastrophic decline of the Northern Quoll. Furthermore, some impacts are due to vegetation changes associated with the pastoral industry. Disease could also be a factor, but to date there is little evidence for or against it. Based on current trends, many native mammals will become extinct in northern Australia in the next 10-20 years, and even the largest and most iconic national parks in northern Australia will lose native mammal species. This problem needs to be solved. The fi rst step towards a solution is to recognise the problem, and this publication seeks to alert the Australian community and decision makers to this urgent issue.
    [Show full text]
  • Season of the Marsupial Bandicoot, Isoodon Macrourus R
    Influence of melatonin on the initiation of the breeding season of the marsupial bandicoot, Isoodon macrourus R. T. Gemmell Department of Anatomy, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4067, Australia Summary. Melatonin implants were administered to 6 female bandicoots during the months of May and July. These animals, together with 6 control bandicoots were housed in large outside enclosures with mature males. Births were observed in the 6 control animals from 26 July to 2 September, but no births were observed in the 6 bandicoots with melatonin implants. These results would suggest that photoperiod, which is known to influence melatonin concentrations, may be a factor in the initiation of births in the bandicoot. However, the gradual build-up of births would suggest that other factors such as temperature and rainfall may also have some influence. Introduction The bandicoots which reside along the Eastern Australian coast are all seasonally breeding marsupials, most of the births occurring in the spring and summer months (Heinsohn, 1966; Gordon, 1971; Stoddart & Braithwaite, 1979; Gemmell, 1982; Barnes & Gemmell, 1984). The cycle of breeding activity is more pronounced as the latitude increases. In Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales definite periods of non-breeding or anoestrus were observed, but in Queensland lactating northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) were observed throughout the year (Hall, 1983), although there was a decrease in breeding during the months April to June (Gemmell, 1982, 1986b). This reduction in the degree of seasonality of reproduction in the bandicoot as the latitude decreases would indicate that the bandicoot is exhibiting a 'high degree of flexibility and opportunism associated with the breeding of most small mammals' (Bronson, 1985).
    [Show full text]
  • Northen Brown Bandicoots in the NT Receive a Helping Hand Sophie
    Northern brown bandicoots in the Northern Territory recieve a helping hand ! By Sophie Moles Recent research has created useful diagnostic resources to evaluate the health of wild northern brown bandicoots in the Top End, NT. The northern brown bandicoot is a native terrestrial marsupial found in the northern and eastern parts of Australia, including New Guinea. The northern brown bandicoot is considered one of the most common bandicoot species, however in recent years has faced threats including predation and fire within the Northern Territory (NT), the geographic focus of this study. Given the significant declines of other marsupials within the NT, such as the Northern Quoll, pre-emptive strategies like the consolidation of health data for the northern brown bandicoot should aid the management of this species. This study used blood, collected in previous fieldwork, from 81 wild northern brown bandicoots in the Top End of the NT to create reference intervals (RI) which are a range of normal values which blood results are compared against to indicate health status, with values outside RI suggestive of ill-health. As previously no RI existed for wild northern brown bandicoots within the Top End, and although RI were established for other bandicoot species, species-specific RI are a more accurate tool to detect disease. This study reported RI, the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile, as well as summary statistics for the entire cohort, and for male and female northern brown bandicoots, as seven blood components were identified as significantly different between the sexes. As for RI, no morphological description of white blood cells existed for this species.
    [Show full text]
  • Thylacomyidae
    FAUNA of AUSTRALIA 25. THYLACOMYIDAE KEN A. JOHNSON 1 Bilby–Macrotis lagotis [F. Knight/ANPWS] 25. THYLACOMYIDAE DEFINITION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION The family Thylacomyidae is a distinctive member of the bandicoot superfamily Perameloidea and is represented by two species, the Greater Bilby, Macrotis lagotis, and the Lesser Bilby, M. leucura. The Greater Bilby is separated from the Lesser Bilby by its greater size: head and body length 290–550 mm versus 200–270 mm; tail 200–290 mm versus 120–170 mm; and weight 600–2500 g versus 311–435 g respectively (see Table 25.1). The dorsal pelage of the Greater Bilby is blue-grey with two variably developed fawn hip stripes. The tail is black around the full circumference of the proximal third, contrasting conspicuously with the pure white distal portion, which has an increasingly long dorsal crest. The Lesser Bilby displays a delicate greyish tan above, described by Spencer (1896c) as fawn-grey and lacks the pure black proximal portion in the tail. Rather, as its specific name implies, the tail is white throughout, although a narrow band of slate to black hairs is present on the proximal third of the length. Finlayson (1935a) noted that the Greater Bilby lacks the strong smell of the Lesser Bilby. The skull of the Lesser Bilby is distinguished from the Greater Bilby by its smaller size (basal length 60-66 mm versus 73–104 mm; [Troughton 1932; Finlayson 1935a]), the more inflated and smoother tympanic bullae (Spencer 1896c), the absence of a fused sagittal crest in old males and the distinctly more cuspidate character in the crowns in the unworn molars (Finlayson 1935a).
    [Show full text]
  • Rodent Control in India
    Integrated Pest Management Reviews 4: 97–126, 1999. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. Rodent control in India V.R. Parshad Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India (Tel.: 91-0161-401960, ext. 382; Fax: 91-0161-400945) Received 3 September 1996; accepted 3 November 1998 Key words: agriculture, biological control, campaign, chemosterilent, commensal, control methods, economics, environmental and cultural methods, horticulture, India, pest management, pre- and post-harvest crop losses, poultry farms, rodent, rodenticide, South Asia, trapping Abstract Eighteen species of rodents are pests in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal and human dwellings and rural and urban storage facilities in India. Their habitat, distribution, abundance and economic significance varies in different crops, seasons and geographical regions of the country. Of these, Bandicota bengalensis is the most predominant and widespread pest of agriculture in wet and irrigated soils and has also established in houses and godowns in metropolitan cities like Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta. In dryland agriculture Tatera indica and Meriones hurrianae are the predominant rodent pests. Some species like Rattus meltada, Mus musculus and M. booduga occur in both wet and dry lands. Species like R. nitidus in north-eastern hill region and Gerbillus gleadowi in the Indian desert are important locally. The common commensal pests are Rattus rattus and M. musculus throughout the country including the islands. R. rattus along with squirrels Funambulus palmarum and F. tristriatus are serious pests of plantation crops such as coconut and oil palm in the southern peninsula. F. pennanti is abundant in orchards and gardens in the north and central plains and sub-mountain regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Rodent Damage to Various Annual and Perennial Crops of India and Its Management
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center Proceedings for April 1987 Rodent Damage to Various Annual and Perennial Crops of India and Its Management Ranjan Advani Dept. of Health, City of New York Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/gpwdcwp Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons Advani, Ranjan, "Rodent Damage to Various Annual and Perennial Crops of India and Its Management" (1987). Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings. 47. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/gpwdcwp/47 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Rodent Damage to Various Annual and Perennial Crops of India and Its Management1 Ranj an Advani 2 Abstract.—The results of about 12 years' study deals with rodent damage to several annual and perennial crops of India including cereal, vegetable, fruit, plantation and other cash crops. The rodent species composition in order of predominance infesting different crops and cropping patterns percent damages and cost effectiveness of rodent control operations in each crop and status of rodent management by predators are analysed. INTRODUCTION attempts and preliminary investigations in cocoa and coconut crops yielded information that pods Rodents, as one of the major important and nuts worth of rupees 500 and 650 respectively vertebrate pests (Advani, 1982a) are directly can be saved when one rupee is spent on trapping of related to the production, storage and processing rodents in the plantations (Advani, 1982b).
    [Show full text]
  • Bandicoot Fossils and DNA Elucidate Lineage Antiquity Amongst Xeric
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Bandicoot fossils and DNA elucidate lineage antiquity amongst xeric-adapted Received: 31 May 2016 Accepted: 31 October 2016 Australasian marsupials Published: 24 November 2016 Benjamin P. Kear1,2, Ken P. Aplin3 & Michael Westerman4 Bandicoots (Peramelemorphia) are a unique order of Australasian marsupials whose sparse fossil record has been used as prima facie evidence for climate change coincident faunal turnover. In particular, the hypothesized replacement of ancient rainforest-dwelling extinct lineages by antecedents of xeric-tolerant extant taxa during the late Miocene (~10 Ma) has been advocated as a broader pattern evident amongst other marsupial clades. Problematically, however, this is in persistent conflict with DNA phylogenies. We therefore determine the pattern and timing of bandicoot evolution using the first combined morphological + DNA sequence dataset of Peramelemorphia. In addition, we document a remarkably archaic new fossil peramelemorphian taxon that inhabited a latest Quaternary mosaic savannah-riparian forest ecosystem on the Aru Islands of Eastern Indonesia. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal that unsuspected dental homoplasy and the detrimental effects of missing data collectively obscure stem bandicoot relationships. Nevertheless, recalibrated molecular clocks and multiple ancestral area optimizations unanimously infer an early diversification of modern xeric-adapted forms. These probably originated during the late Palaeogene (30–40 Ma) alongside progenitors of other desert marsupials, and thus occupied seasonally dry heterogenous habitats long before the onset of late Neogene aridity. Bandicoots (Peramelemorphia) are a speciose order of Australasian marsupials that appeared early in the evolu- tionary history of Australidelphia1. Most are small to medium sized (up to 5 kg) terrestrial omnivores occupying a spectrum of rainforest to desert habitats2,3.
    [Show full text]
  • Researchers Discover New Species of Extinct Australian Mammal 25 March 2019
    Researchers discover new species of extinct Australian mammal 25 March 2019 collected by Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1946 confirmed the existence of two species not only morphologically, but genetically. Roberto Portela Miguez, senior curator in charge of mammals at the Museum, said, "This study demonstrates the importance of museum collections. Using a combination of historical research, new techniques and museum specimens from around the world has allowed us to identify and learn more about this recently extinct species. Collections like that of the Natural History Museum are fundamental to increase our understanding of present and past biodiversity on Earth. While knowledge of this new species arrived too late to save it from extinction, hopefully the lesson learnt demonstrates the urgency and importance of Chaeropus yirratji, a newly discovered species of pig- supporting biodiversity research." footed bandicoot. Credit: Peter Schouten/WA Museum Researchers also used fossil records and Aboriginal oral accounts recorded in the 1980s to trace the two species' distribution. Chaeropus A team of researchers at the Natural History yirratji was thought to have lived in sandy Museum in London and the Western Australian environments in central Australia and Chaeropus Museum have discovered a new species of very ecaudatus lived in the southern peripheral areas of small, incredibly fast, extinct Australian Pigfooted the arid zone of Australia. Both species were Bandicoot. thought to inhabit areas of Western Australia. The pig-footed bandicoot was unique, and unlike Dr. Kenny Travouillon, Curator of Mammalogy at any other mammal due to its ability to walk on two the WA Museum, believes the discovery of toes on its front legs, and one toe on its hind legs.
    [Show full text]
  • Greater Bilby Macrotis Lagotis
    Endangered Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis Greater Bilbies are culturally important marsupials about the size of small cats. They are the largest member of the bandicoot family – adult females weigh about 1 kg and males are twice that weight. They have long, highly sensitive ears that are important for keeping them cool and hearing predators. This, and their long, silky fur and white tipped tails, make it easy to tell them apart from other bandicoots. Greater Bilbies have Bioregion resources strong front limbs like a kangaroo. They also have poor vision but good senses of hearing and smell. Greater Bilbies were presumed extinct in South Australia in the 1930s. Indigenous names for the Greater Bilby include Ninu (Pitjantjatjara), Walpajirri (Warlpiri), Ahert (Arrente) and Mankarr (Manjilyjarra). Diet Greater Bilbies forage at night, travelling up to five km to find food. They are omnivorous and feed on invertebrates (e.g. termites, witchetty grubs and spiders) fungi, seeds, bulbs and occasionally, small vertebrates they dig up. Breeding Most of the time, Greater Bilbies live alone, but they may live in family groups of two to four when they have young. Breeding is possible all year round but usually depends on rainfall and the availability of food. Female bilbies give birth to one to three young, which stay in the pouch for about 2.5 months (a Bilby’s pouch contains eight teats). Habitat Greater Bilbies were once common across 70 per cent of the Australian mainland but now their distribution has been greatly reduced. They live in sandy deserts, inside burrows that spiral down to around two metres deep.
    [Show full text]
  • GREATER BILBY BILBY Macrotis Lagotis
    Threatened Species of the Northern Territory GREATER BILBY BILBY Macrotis lagotis Conservation status Australia: Vulnerable Northern Territory: Vulnerable Description Historically, the greater bilby occupied a vast area of arid and semi-arid Australia. Its The greater bilby is a large bandicoot (body distribution declined dramatically in the years mass males, 800-2500g; females, 600-1100g) following European settlement and it now with soft silky fur. The fur is ash grey over occupies about 20% of its former range. The most of the body, whereas on the belly it is species occurs in two separate geographic pure white to cream. The basal 20 percent of areas; one extending from the western the tail is the same colour as the upper-body, deserts region of the Northern Territory and the central 40 percent is black and the distal Western Australia north to the Pilbara and 40 percent, pure white. The forelimbs are Kimberley regions, the second in the Channel robust and equipped with three stoutly Country of south-west Queensland (Watts clawed toes (and two unclawed toes) giving 1969; Southgate 1990a). the animal a formidable burrowing capacity. The slender hind limbs are long and resemble those of macropods. The snout is long and delicate and the ears are large and rabbit-like. Distribution Within the Northern Territory, it occurs in the central and western parts of the Tanami bioregion, the southern Sturt Plateau bioregion and the northern Great Sandy Desert bioregion. The distribution is highly fragmented within this area. The most southerly recent records are in the vicinity of Kintore, the most northerly around Newcastle Waters and Wave Hill.
    [Show full text]
  • Marsupialia, Peramelemorphia) Skeleton from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia
    Functional and morphometric analysis of a middle Miocene bandicoot (Marsupialia, Peramelemorphia) skeleton from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia Karen H. Black1, Kenny J. Travouillon2, Troy J. Myers1, Michael Archer1, Suzanne J. Hand1, Laura A. B. Wilson1, Joseph Bevitt3 1 Palaeontology, Geobiology and Earth Archives (PANGEA) Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2 Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia 3 Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia Corresponding Author: Karen Black1 PANGEA Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia Email address: [email protected] PeerJ Preprints | https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.3393v1 | CC BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 6 Nov 2017, publ: 6 Nov 2017 Functional and morphometric analysis of a middle Miocene bandicoot (Marsupialia, Peramelemorphia) skeleton from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, Australia Peramelemorphia comprises four families: the extant Peramelidae (bandicoots), and Thylacomyidae (bilbies); the recently extinct Chaeropodidae (pig-footed bandicoot); and the extinct Yaralidae; with at least ten fossil species of uncertain familial affinity designated as Perameloidea incertae sedis. Extant taxa (18 species) are characteristically omnivorous, small to medium sized (0.1-4.9 kg) semi-fossorial/fossorial marsupials with a quadrupedal bounding gait. They occupy varied habitats from desert to rainforest in Australia and New Guinea. Fourteen pre-Pliocene taxa are currently described on the basis of cranial and/or dental material, yet none is known from its postcranial skeleton. Here we use qualitative morphological and morphometric data to analyse a partial skeleton of a new species of bandicoot from a middle Miocene cave deposit, AL90 Site, in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area.
    [Show full text]