8 adorable Aussie desert-dwellers
THE MARSUPIAL family Dasyuridae has adapted well to the conditions, and if you spend time in the desert, you might be lucky enough to spot one of these rodent look-alikes. But with about 20 species of small dasyurid in the arid zone and some native true rodents too, most people would be hard-pressed to pick a kultarr or a dunnart from a house mouse.
These little desert creatures tend to be nocturnal, sheltering below ground during the heat of the day. Many don’t even need to drink, as their water requirements are met by food.
Dasyurids are mostly insectivorous, while native rodents tend to eat more seeds and vegetation. The similarity of these natives to some introduced rodents means they are easily mistaken for pests and sometimes killed. Some of the species shown here are officially classified as vulnerable and several closely related species are endangered.
All illustrations by Kevin Stead.
1. Wongai Ningaui
Ningaui ridei
Family: Dasyuridae
Body length: 60 —70mrn
Tail: 60-70mm
This mammal resembles a dunnart but has broader hind feet and bristly fur. Unlike many other small desert mammals, wongai ningauis can climb into low-lying vegetation, aided by their semi-prehensile tails. They are mostly found in mature spinifex grassland but also inhabit sand-plains, mallee woodland and open shrubland.
2. Spinifex hopping mouse
Notomys alexis
Family: Muridae Body length: 95-115mm
Tail:130-150mm
This small native rodent is characterised by its kangaroo-like hop. It’s highly social, cooperating with others to dig several burrows up to 1 m deep with connecting runways. As many as 10 adults will share these nests, plugging entrances with sand to minimise water loss.
3. Kowari
Dasyuroides byrnei
Family: Dasyuridae
Body length: 130-180mm
Tail: 110-140mm
It’s thought that the total kowari population consists of fewer than 10,000 individuals, with numbers fluctuating through flood and drought cycles. Threats include feral cats, habitat degradation from livestock, and climate change. They prefer to dig their burrows into tussock grasslands, dry riverbeds and sand dunes.
4. Stripe-faced dunnart
Sminthopsis macroura
Family: Dasyuridae
Body length: 70-100mm
Tail: 80-100mm
The stripe-faced dunnart has the ability to store nutrients and water in its tail. Healthy individuals will often have a tail that appears fattened at the base. It’s widely distributed throughout Australia’s dry grasslands and shrublands.
5. Fat-tailed antechinus
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis
Family: Dasyuridae
Body length: 90-110mm
Tail: 70-90mm
This marsupial is named for its ability to store fat in its tail, which it does more noticeably than other dasyurids, giving it an almost carrot-like shape when well nourished. Unlike many other small arid-zone mammals, it’s notable for appearing during the day to bask in the sunlight near the rocky crevices in which it nests.
6. Crest-tailed mulgara
Dasycercus cristicauda
Family: Dasyuridae
Body length: 120-220mm
Tail: 70-130mm
One of the largest desert-dwelling dasyurids, the mulgara eats insects, small reptiles and other mammals. It has only recently been distinguished as a separate species from the similar brush-tailed variety and is thought to have a preference for burrowing into open sand dunes or salt pans.
7. Kultarr
Antechinomys laniger
Family: Dasyuridae
Body length: 70-110mm
Tail: 100-150mm
The kultarr has disappeared from some areas of NSW, but is widespread across the rest of its range. It’s notoriously difficult to trap and therefore study. The kultarr is characterised by its bounding gait, due to elongated hind feet that allow it to rapidly change direction by pivoting on its forefeet.
8. Plains mouse
Pseudomys australis
Family: Muridae
Body length: 100-140mm
Tail: 80-120mm
Described as ‘eruptive’, this native rodent, also known as the plains rat, breeds rapidly in response to heavy rainfall. One of the largest rodents still present in arid regions, it inhabits burrows on stony plains, relying on erosion from water to create suitable burrowing sites.
READ MORE:
- Australia’s carnivorous quolls
- Australia’s banksias
- The desert-dwelling mulgara
- Threatened Aussie mouse sneaks onto conservation reserve
