Ooldea dunnart

The Ooldea dunnart (Sminthopsis ooldea), also called Troughton's dunnart after the person who found the species, is an Australian marsupial similar to the hairy-footed dunnart. It is greyish-yellow on its upper body and white on the underside with dark patches on its crown, forehead and in front of the eyes, and a pink thinly furred carrot shaped tail. Its total length is 115–173 mm; its average body length is 55–80 mm with a tail of 60–93 mm. Its ear length is 14–17 mm. This dunnart weighs between 10 and 18 grams.

Ooldea dunnart[1]

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Sminthopsis
Species:
S. ooldea
Binomial name
Sminthopsis ooldea
Troughton, 1965
Ooldea dunnart range

Distribution and habitat

This dasyurid is found from the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory, south to Ooldea in South Australia and east to neighboring areas of Western Australia. The type of habitat it inhabits includes arid eucalypt and acacia woodlands, heathlands mallee scrub and hummock grasslands, low shrubland, open scrub and tall open shrubland.

Social organisation and breeding

The Ooldea dunnart has 8 young between September and November but, since the species is not much studied, not much more is known. It is nocturnal and has been found in burrows and hollow logs.

Diet

It is believed, from evidence gathered, that this species eats insects.

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References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 36. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Burbidge, A.; Robinson, T. & Woinarski, J. (2008). "Sminthopsis ooldea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Menkhorst, P.; Knight, F. (2001). A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Press. ISBN 0-19-550870-X.
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