Australian Species ThreatenedDibbler Parantechinus apicalis

CONSERVATION STATUS COMMONWEALTH: Endangered (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) : Endangered (Wildlife Conservation Act 1950)

Mainland Dibblers usually live in dense WHAT DOES IT heath and mallee-heath areas. Their island habitat however is very different LOOK LIKE? to that of the mainland and is made up The Dibbler is a small . of low, dense coastal vegetation. It has a very distinct white ring around each large eye and a hairy, tapering tail. The fur is brownish-grey and freckled with white on the upper body, and grey-white WHAT DOES IT EAT? The Dibbler is a and uses tinged with yellow on the lower body. its strong jaws and sharp teeth to devour insects, spiders and small reptiles. The dibbler occasionally feeds on berries and flower nectar. WHERE DOES IT LIVE? Photo: Vanessa Harris Dibblers were once found across most of the southwest of Western Australia (WA). They have been severely affected DID YOU KNOW... by the introduction of , changed • Dibblers only weigh between fire practices, and loss of habitat. As a 40 and 100 grams result the species was presumed extinct • Female Dibblers can carry as many as by 1904. eight young in their pouch at a time • Males sometimes die after breeding. But in 1967 a Dibbler was captured at This phenomenon, however, does not Cheyne Beach near Albany, on WA’s occur every mating season. south coast. Then in 1985 the species was discovered living on Boullanger and Whitlock Islands off the state’s west coast. Today wild Dibblers survive at Fitzgerald River National Park near Albany and on Boullanger & Whitlock Islands. Translocation projects are helping establish further populations with bred in captivity at Zoo. PHYTOPHTHORA DIEBACK: A MAJOR THREAT!

Phytophthora dieback (pronounced Fy – tof – thora, meaning ‘plant killer’ HOW YOU CAN HELP in Greek, Phytophthora cinnamomi) is • Dibblers are rarely seen in the wild. a water mould that attacks the roots of If you think you have found one contact susceptible plants, devastating eucalypt your local CALM office to report the forests, woodlands and heathlands. It was sighting introduced to Australia following European • Be a responsible pet owner: keep pets settlement in the soil around the roots of inside at night, walk dogs on a lead live plants. when in bushland and attach a bell to your ’s collar • Take care not to start bushfires • Follow dieback hygiene procedures WHY IS DIEBACK and keep off tracks that are closed to A PROBLEM IN prevent its spread Dieback in banksia woodland, WA. • Land managers can help by removing AUSTRALIA? Photo: John Hicks feral and foxes and protecting Dieback attacks the roots of plants, remnant plant communities. limiting their uptake of water and nutrients and eventually killing them. WHAT’S BEING DONE? Jarrah, banksias, grasstrees and Zamia WA’s Department of Conservation and palms are all highly susceptible to the Land Management (CALM) has a ‘Western pathogen. In WA’s southwest there are Shield Program’ that aims to protect the a particularly large number of plants diversity of the state’s plants and animals, including the Dibbler. The Program does dying from Phytophthora dieback, with CONTACTS AND REFERENCES this by controlling introduced predators approximately 30 per cent of plant Katherine Miller like foxes, protecting important habitat, species in the region affected. WA Coordinator and re-introducing captive-bred species Threatened Species Network into the wild. Ph: (08) 9387 6444 Email: [email protected] WHY IS IT A THREAT The Australian Government has provided Visit: www.wwf.org.au/tsn Natural Heritage Trust funding to support TO DIBBLERS? a CALM and breeding project. Christopher Dunne Many habitats on WA’ s south These Dibblers are released by CALM in Dieback Project Officer coast where Dibblers have been suitable habitat under the Western Shield Dieback Working Group recorded contain plants susceptible to Program - in 2005 the Perth Zoo had Ph: (08) 9257 9957 Phytophthora dieback. When ecological released more than 200 Dibblers into Email: [email protected] communities are affected it then affects the wild. species that rely on the habitat for You can also find out more information survival. As local plants die, insects As a result of this work new Dibbler about Australia’s threatened species by visiting reduce in numbers and hence food populations were successfully established www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened or resources become limited for carnivorous at Escape Island, near Boullanger & contacting the Department of the Environment species like the Dibbler. This pressure Whitlock Islands and at Peniup on WA’s and Heritage Community Information Unit on can be devastating to a species already south coast. under threat. free-call 1800 803 772. The Australian Government is investing in • Strahan R (1995) Complete Book of Australian . research to better understand the spread The Australian Museum. Reed Books, Chatswood of and controls that can be used against • Friend, T. (2004), Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) Recovery Plan, available at: http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/ Phytophthora dieback. watscu/pdf/frps/dibbler_wmp38.pdf • Department of Conservation and Land Managementwebsite: The Threatened Species Network is http://www.calm.wa.gov.au working with the Dieback Working Group to raise awareness about how individuals can help to slow the spread of Phytophthora dieback.

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