Archive for the ‘Australian Mammals’ Category
Posted on June 3, 2010 - by admin
Bobuck Black Possum
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Trichosurus caninus or the Bobuck Black Possum
The Bobuck is also known as the Bobuck Black Possum or the Mountain Possum. As one of its names suggests, it is typically found only in mountain country of eastern Australia. The Bobuck Black Possum has adapted to endure the extreme cold of winter in the Great Dividing Range above the snow line.
Posted on June 2, 2010 - by admin
Ringtail Possum
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Pseudocheirus peregrinus or the Ringtail Possum
Many Australian tree dwellers rely on natural hollows in trees for shelter. These are sturdy and snug, but they are also in short supply. This is why some animals have decided to build their own shelter. The ringtail possum builds a nest (called a ‘drey’) using sticks and leaves. The ringtail possum sleeps in this drey during the day, and comes out at night forage for leaves, flowers and fruit. Female ringtails tend to have twins, which they will look after until the young are about six months old. Ringtail Possum families will often live together in their drey, and the pair bond (the mum and dad) can last for several years. (more…)
Posted on June 1, 2010 - by admin
Long-nosed Potoroo
Potorous tridactylus or the Long-nosed Potoroo
One of the first mammals recorded form Australia was the long-nosed potoroo. Their species name, ‘tridactylus’, means ‘three toes’. The Long-nosed Potoroo has four toes, but the secondhand third are joined, which fooled the early naturalists that described this animal. They like to live in areas with thick ground cover. They will often dig small holes in the ground in the same fashion that bandicoots do. They do this to search for soil-dwelling insects, worms, fungi, and plant roots and tubers. (more…)
Posted on May 31, 2010 - by admin
Squirrel Glider
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Petaurus norfolcensis or the Squirrel Glider
The squirrel glider is very similar in appearance and gliding ability to the sugar glider, though it can get to twice the size. In a lot of areas the squirrel glider is rarer and more restricted than its cousin the sugar glider. Loss of habitat is threatening this animal: it may be endangered in the southern part of its range in northern Victoria. The squirrel glider lives in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland in south-eastern Australia, but not in dense coastal ranges. However, in northern New South Wales and Queensland it occurs in coastal forest and in some wet forest areas bordering on rainforest. (more…)
Posted on May 30, 2010 - by admin
Spinifex Hopping Mice
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Notomys alexis or the Spinifex Hopping Mice
Hopping mice cope with the harsh conditions of arid Australia by residing in deep humid burrows during the day. Colonies of up to 10 individuals may reside in each burrow system.
Posted on May 29, 2010 - by admin
Northern Brown Bandicoot
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Isoodon macrourus or the northern brown bandicoot
The northern brown bandicoot eats insects and spiders but will also eat berries, seeds and some plant material. They live in a number of habitat types but prefer to hang out in areas of low and dense ground cover. Northern brown bandicoots spend their days in hidden nests and sometimes in hollow logs and under grass tussocks. They come out at night to forage, often digging small conical shaped holes in the ground when looking for food. (more…)
Posted on May 28, 2010 - by admin
Spotted-tailed Quoll
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Dasyurus maculatus or the Spotted-tailed Quoll
The tiger or spotted-tailed quoll is the second largest of the world’s surviving carnivorous marsupials (the largest is the Tasmanian devil). Male tiger quolls can measure up to 130 cm long and 4 kg in weight. Females are significantly smaller than males. The tiger quoll is found on the east coast of mainland Australia, but is rare. They can be found in northern Queensland, and from southern Queensland to Tasmania. The tiger quoll is now threatened throughout its mainland range. (more…)
Posted on May 27, 2010 - by admin
Northern Quoll
Dasyurus hallucatus or the Northern Quoll
The northern quoll belongs to the same genus as the spotted-tailed quoll which is found on the east coast of Australia. Wild northern quolls are reputed to be the most aggressive of all the quoll species. Northern quoll can be generally found in habitats with trees, preferring rocky country or open Eucalypt forest close to the coast. These voracious feeders will dine on pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths – mice, dunnarts, lizards, snakes, frogs, road kill, grasshoppers, cockroaches, etc. (more…)
Posted on May 26, 2010 - by admin
Rufous Bettong
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Aepyprymnus rufescens or the Rufous Bettong
The Rufous bettong likes to eat herbs, grasses, roots and tubers during the night. They may also dig up and eat fungi. Like the red kangaroo, they do not need to drink free water, but may do so when it is available and there is a drought. The rufous bettong likes to hang out in areas that are sparsely vegetated but are close to areas with a dense understorey to escape from predators.
