Golden short-nosed bag
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Golden short-nosed bucket ( Isoodon auratus ) |
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| Isoodon auratus | ||||||||||||
| ( Ramsay , 1887) |
The golden short-nosed bucket ( Isoodon auratus ) is a marsupial from the genus of the short-nosed bucket that occurs in various residual populations in the north and northwest of Australia.
Systematics and distribution
The species is divided into three subspecies. The nominate form, Isoodon auratus auratus , lives in the Kimberley region and on some islands off the coast. Isoodon auratus arnhemensis is only found on the northeastern peninsula (Cape Arnhem) of Arnhem Land and the last occurrences of I. auratus barrowensis live on Barrow Island and Middle Island. I. a. auratus and I. a. barrowensis can also be distinguished from one another and from other short-nosed sacs from a molecular genetic point of view . I. a. arnhemensis is registered as a further subspecies mainly due to its larger size and a slightly different skull shape. However, this is not recognized by all authors. In molecular genetic analyzes, I. a. auratus and I. a. barrowensis is a clade with Isoodon obesulus peninsulae , a subspecies of the lesser short-nosed buccaneer that occurs on the Cape York Peninsula . The subspecies must therefore possibly be assigned to the golden short-nosed pouch or raised to a separate species. I. auratus barrowensis and animals whose subspecies are unknown were released by humans on other small Western Australian islands. The species used to be common in large parts of western and southern Australia.
features
The golden short-nosed pouch is the smallest type of short-nosed pouch and is characterized by its yellowish-brown fur. The belly is whitish to cream-colored, the tail is orange to dark brown. The head body length is 19 to 29.5 cm, plus a 8.4 to 12.1 cm long tail. The weight of I. a. auratus is between 300 and 670 g, that of I. a. barrowensis between 250 and 600 g. Adult males are 40 to 50% heavier than females.
Way of life
The animals live in sandy areas in which mainly tussock grass , eucalyptus and acacias grow. They build their nests, which consist of dry grass and leaves, mainly in large tussock tussocks or under sandstone rocks. They are nocturnal, spend the day in the nests and only leave them when it is completely dark. They are most active 3 to 4 hours after sunset and one hour before sunrise. They feed primarily on larger invertebrates, with larger ones being preferred. Their prey includes beetles, termites, ants, centipedes and larvae. They also eat fruits, seeds, roots, sprouts and other vegetable parts. Vegetable food is mainly consumed in the dry season.
Reproduction
The female gives birth to one to three young per litter. The bag opens backwards and has eight teats. It is not known how long the females are pregnant and how long the young are suckled. Probably as long as the better researched small short-nosed pouch ( Isoodon obesulus ). Golden Kurznasenbeutler become sexually mature at six to seven months.
Danger
The IUCN lists the golden short-nosed pouch as "endangered" (vulnerable). The decline of the species on mainland Australia is attributed to the stalking of feral domestic cats and red foxes, as well as to larger bushfires. The remaining adult population is estimated to be 30,000.
Individual evidence
- ^ Westerman M, Kear BP, Aplin K, Meredith RW, Emerling C, Springer MS. Phylogenetic relationships of living and recently extinct bandicoots based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2012 Jan; 62 (1): 97-108. doi: 10.1016 / j.ympev.2011.09.009
- ↑ a b c d Christopher Dickman: Family Peramelidae (Bandicoots and Echymiperas). Page 389 in Don E. Wilson , Russell A. Mittermeier : Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 5. Monotremes and Marsupials. Lynx Editions, 2015, ISBN 978-84-96553-99-6
- ^ IUCN Red List , accessed April 9, 2018