Miniature sacred marten
| Miniature sacred marten | ||||||||||||
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Miniature sacred marten ( Dasyurus hallucatus ) according to Gould |
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| Dasyurus hallucatus | ||||||||||||
| Gould , 1842 |
The miniature bag marten or northern bag marten ( Dasyurus hallucatus ) is a species from the family of predatory marten .
features
With a head body length of 12.5 to 31 cm and a weight of 300 to 900 g, it is the smallest of the Australian bag marten. The males are usually slightly larger and heavier than the females. The upper side is gray-brown or brown with the large white spots typical of the genus, the underside is cream-colored or white. The species differs from other species of the genus by the combination of features of unspotted tail and grooved ball of the foot on the five-pointed hind extremity.
distribution
Originally, the miniature sacred marten was widespread throughout northern Australia from the Pilbara region in Western Australia to southeast Queensland . After the continent was colonized by the Europeans, the range shrank sharply, but later than that of closely related species. The spread of the cane toad introduced in 1935 is considered to be one of the causes of this decline .
Today the species only occurs in 6 areas: the Hamersley Range , North Kimberley , the northernmost tip of the Cape York Peninsula , in the Atherton Tableland , the Carnarvon Range and in the far north of the Northern Territory .
habitat
Within the distribution area, all tree-covered habitats are used as living space, the highest population densities are achieved in rocky areas and open eucalyptus forests.
Way of life
Although the miniature sacred marten is primarily ground-living, it is a good climber and is more arboreal than other species of sacred marten. It feeds on small mammals, reptiles, insects, honey and soft fruits. The main predators are dingoes and large owls , but only a few pouch martens seem to fall victim to predators.
Danger
The IUCN lists the pygmy marten as endangered .
literature
- Ronald Strahan: The Mammals of Australia . Australian Museum - Reed New Holland, 2000 ISBN 1-876334-01-0
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alina Schadwinkel: Training for the taste buds. In: Zeit Online. April 14, 2010, accessed April 18, 2010 .
Web links
- Dasyurus hallucatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group, 2008. Accessed January 11, 2012 Design.