Australian Species ThreatenedJulia Creek Sminthopsis douglasi

CONSERVATION STATUS COMMONWEALTH: Endangered (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) QUEENSLAND: Endangered (Nature Conservation Act 1992)

WHAT DOES IT WHAT DOES IT EAT? This nocturnal species has short, LOOK LIKE? sharp teeth ideal for crunching insects, The Julia Creek Dunnart is a small, centipedes, spiders, scorpions and carnivorous resembling a large skinks. These invertebrates contain a high mouse, with brownish fur on its back percentage of water, which means the Photo: Viewfinder Australia Photo Library and a white underbelly. Like others in its Dunnart does not need to drink often - a family, it has large eyes, narrow feet and great adaptation for life in arid conditions. a pointed snout, but is distinguished by a prominent facial stripe and dark hairy rings around the eyes and ears. Its long, tapering tail is slightly shorter than the DID YOU KNOW... combined head and body length. • This little marsupial only weighs between 40 and 70 grams, but it is the largest member of its genus • During short-term food shortages it can WHERE DOES go into a kind of hibernation known as IT LIVE? ‘torpor’ The Julia Creek Dunnart is restricted • It may have the ability to detect rain to the Mitchell Grass Downs country through its keen sense of smell. It of northwest Queensland. It gets its name has been known to travel up to 10 from the fact that until recently, all known kilometres after local rain, almost individuals had been found within a short always toward the rainfall area radius of Julia Creek and Richmond. • The species is capable of hunting During dry conditions, especially when lizards and mice, and young ground cover is sparse, the Dunnart can catch their own insect dinners from may shelter in cracks in the ground. just 10 weeks of age After rain it likes the protection of low • Up to 8 young are born in each litter. plant communities. A newborn Dunnart weighs just 15 milligrams, is only 4 millimetres long, and breathes through its skin! The mother carries her young in a tiny fold of belly skin that works as a pouch. PRICKLY ACACIA: A MAJOR THREAT!

WHY IS PRICKLY WHY IS PRICKLY •HOW Private landholdersYOU CAN are the HELPfront-line ACACIA A PROBLEM ACACIA A THREAT TO defence against prickly acacia. They can prevent seed dispersal by stock by: IN AUSTRALIA? THE DUNNART? - Running sheep instead of cattle in Prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica) is native The Julia Creek Dunnart and many infested paddocks to the tropics and subtropics of Africa other small are at risk from - Preventing cattle from browsing on (Ethiopia, Somalia), through to Pakistan, the prickly acacia as it kills off the seeding plants India and Burma. It was introduced to grasslands native depend on - Quarantining cattle before transport Queensland in the late 1890s to provide for shelter and food. Climatic factors, - Clearing mustering lanes, fencing shade and food for livestock. It was introduced predators (especially cats) off dense infestations and clearing declared a noxious weed in the state and over-grazing may have also around watering points in 1957 and is now regarded as one of contributed to the species’ decline. - Asking local councils or state/territory the worst weeds in Australia. Around weed management agencies for 7 million hectares of arid and semi-arid advice on control methods country is infested in Queensland alone. • Gardeners and horticulturalists can Easily spread and highly adaptable, it has WHAT’S BEING DONE? help reduce Australia’s weed problem the potential to invade most of northern A recovery team of members of the by not buying invasive plants. Check Australia, including the majority of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, with your local nursery for a list of Queensland and the Northern Territory, Queensland Department of Primary potential weeds and alternative local and much of Western Australia. Industries, Queensland Department of native species. Natural Resources, La Trobe University, Growing in thorny thickets, this thirsty Queensland Wildlife Preservation Society weed robs native pastures of water and and Agforce is working to protect the its dense canopy prevents the growth of dunnart and its habitat. Among other most native plants beneath. The plant activities, the team has negotiated reduces the productivity of grasslands, voluntary conservation agreements restricts stock access to watercourses on private land and conducts surveys CONTACTS AND REFERENCES and interferes with mustering. to identify critical Dunnart habitat and distribution. Rebecca Richardson QLD Coordinator Prickly acacia threatens the environment Threatened Species Network by turning grasslands into impenetrable, Determined afforts are being made to Ph: (07) 3221 0573 thorny scrub and by replacing grasses combat the spread of prickly acacia. Email: [email protected] with less stable, short-lived plants. In the The National Prickly Acacia Management Visit: www.wwf.org.au/tsn Mitchell Grass Downs it poses a threat Group is overseeing the implementation to 25 rare and threatened species of a national strategy. Efforts centre on Weeds Australia and 2 endangered plant communities. preventing the spread of the weed outside Visit: www.weeds.org.au/noxious.htm the National Prickly Acacia Containment Line, defined in 1999, and minimising You can also find out more information impacts within it. about Australia’s threatened species by visiting www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened or In addition the Australian Government contacting the Department of the Environment recently launched its new four-year, and Heritage Community Information Unit on $40 million Defeating the Weeds Menace free-call 1800 803 772. program, which takes a national approach • Recovery plan for the Julia Creek Dunnart: www.deh.gov. to tackling our most significant weeds. au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/juliacreek- dunnart/ • CRC for Australian Weed Management: http://www.weeds. Photo: N. March (QLD NR&M) crc.org.au/documents/wmg_prickly_acacia.pdf • Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines: http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/factsheets/pdf/pest/PP9.pdf#sear ch=’prickly%20acacia’

The Threatened Species Network is a community-based program of the Australian Government & WWF-Australia.