Pseudantechinus roryi, Cooper, Aplin & Adams, 2000

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Dasyuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 232-348 : 297-298

14.

Rory’s Pseudantechinus

Pseudantechinus roryi

French: Dasyure de Rory / German: Rorys Fettschwanz-Beutelmaus / Spanish: Falso antequino de Rory

Other common names: Rory Cooper's False Antechinus

Taxonomy. Pseudantechinus roryi Cooper, Aplin & Adams, 2000 ,

Woodstock Station , 500 m north of the homestead, 21° 36’ 42” S, 117° 57° 20” E, Western Australia, Australia .

Rory’s pseudantechinus was first distinguished from P. macdonnellensis and P. woolleyae in 1990 when specimens were examined after a survey of fauna at Woodstock Station in the central Pilbara. Significant skull differences were observed among this newly recognized species and the other two pseudantechinuses ( P. woolleyae and P. macdonnellensis ) in the region. Unless seen together, the three species are difficult to distinguish externally, but P. rory: evidently differs from the other two partially sympatric species by being smaller in almost all external characters. Morphological and (allozyme) genetic studies from the descriptive study confirmed specific differences, although only one of 53 loci (2%) in a sample of eleven individuals was fixed among populations and overall genetic differentiation was low. Later genetic work (direct DNA sequencing) cast the validity of this species into doubt. There are currently six recognized species of dasyurid marsupial “false antechinuses:” bilarni , macdonnellensis , mimulus , ningbing , roryi , and woolleyae , macdonnellensis and mimulus were initially placed under the genus Antechinus , along with Parantechinus apicalis . G. H. H. Tate then erected a new genus ( Pseudantechinus ) for both macdonnellensis and mimulus and a monotypic genus, Parantechinus , for apicalis , but then W. D. L. Ride returned them all to Antechinus . P. A. Woolley examined penile morphology of Ride’s Antechinus supergroup and proposed that macdonnellensis , bilarni , the undescribed “ ningbing ,” and apicalis formed a distinct group. So M. Archer resurrected both of Tate’s genera, placing macdonnellensis and “ ningbing ” under Pseudantechinus , and bilarni and apicalis under Parantechinus . Direct DNA sequencing of mtDNA and nDNA conducted over the last decade suggests that P. bilarni is very different genetically from Parantechinus ( P. apicalis ) and all other species of Pseudantechinus , P. woolleyae was resolved as sister to all congeners; and P. ningbing was resolved as sister to a clade containing P. mimulus , P. macdonnellensis , and P. roryi . Nevertheless, P. roryi and P. macdonnellensis were not monophyletic; rather, they formed a clade with evidence of marked genetic differentiation across their combined geographical distributions. Importantly, the pattern of differentiation in genetics does not match either the purported geographical or morphological boundaries of the two species. Instead, DNA data exhibit breaks consistent with populations in the Cape Range, Barrow Island, and Abydos-Woodstock areas of the Pilbara in Western Australia. Indeed, in Abydos-Woodstock, genetically distinct groups may occur in sympatry but in different microhabitats. Other work has hinted at similar subdivisions farther east in the Sedimentaries and Tanami Desert. More detailed sampling (with associated collection of voucher specimens) is required throughout distributions of these species to determine if genetic boundaries are consistent with variation within or between species. Genetic results are striking, but in recognition of outstanding knowledge gaps in population genetic structure and because taxonomic changes required likely extend beyond a simple submersion of roryi under macdonnellensis , the existing taxonomyis retained here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Western Australia, from Cape Range on the W coast and through the Pilbara region, N of the Hamersley Range E to the Clutterbuck Hills, 200 km W of the Western Australian/Northern Territory border, and on Barrow I. Rory’s Pseudantechinus is sympatric over the S & W partofits distribution with its congener, Woolley’s Pseudantechinus ( £. woolleyae ).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 8:3-9 cm (males) and 7.7-9 cm (females), tail 6-6 8.8 cm (males and females); weight 19-32 g (males) and 17-26 g (females). Fur of Rory’s Pseudantechinus is reddish; face and chin are tan with dark basal hairs. There is a bright orange patch behind the ears. Tail is distinctly bicolored, and its upper surface is tan and it is paler to white below. Rory’s Pseudantechinus is generally a brighter reddish-brown dorsally than the other species of Pseudantechinus . Rory’s Pseudantechinus and the Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus ( P. macdonnellensis ) share the following characteristics: three upper premolar teeth, with the third having a crown area less than two-thirds that of the second premolar; usually two pairs of lower premolar teeth; females have six nipples; and accessory erectile tissue of males forms an appendage to the penis. This combination of characteristics differentiates these two species from all congeners. Despite the similarities, Rory’s Pseudantechinus tends to have redderfur, is smaller in size, and has a tail that more gradually broadens at the base and is more bicolored than the Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus .

Habitat. Variety of habitats from very open low woodland through sand plains dominated by spinifex (7riodia, Poaceae ) to large granite rock piles. Rory’s Pseudantechinus is most abundant around granite tors (large, free-standing rock outcrops) on sand plains. A female with young was dug out of a termite mound, and several others were trapped close to termite mounds. Rory’s Pseudantechinus has been caught in Elliott and pitfall traps; males and females have been collected during all months of the year. The holotype was taken from low, open woodland of Acacia pyrifolia, Fabaceae (2-3 m tall, 3% canopy cover), Hakea subarea, Proteaceae (2-3 m tall, less than 0-5% canopy cover), and Acacia sp. (2-3 m tall, less than 0-5% canopy cover) extending over Triodia spp-, Fabaceae (c.0-5 m tall, 80% canopy cover).

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. Little is known of reproduction in this species. Female Rory’s Pseudantechinuses consistently have six teats in a well-defined pouch and can successfully carry up to six pouch young. Males have an accessory process on the penis. Three females caught at Woodstock Station in October-November were all carrying pouch young, but a female caught in August at Eginbah Station, 75 km north-east of Woodstock,also had young. As in other species of Pseudantechinus , breeding appears to be seasonal.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Rory’s Pseudantechinus has a wide distribution and presumably a large overall population, and it does not face any major conservation threats. Rory’s Pseudantechinus is sparsely scattered within abundant suitable habitat, and there is no evidence of a current decline in its populations. It occurs on Barrow Island, which is a nature reserve, but Chevron owns an oil lease to the island so conservation status of Rory’s Pseudantechinus and other animals is far from secure there. Cape Range National Park covers part of the Cape Range area where Rory’s Pseudantechinus occurs.

Bibliography. Archer (1982c), Baverstock et al. (1982), Burbidge, Cooper & Morris (2008), Cooper, N.K. (2008), Cooper, N. K. et al. (2000), How et al. (1991), Krajewski & Westerman (2003), Ride (1964), Tate (1947), Wester man et al. (2007), Woolley (1982).

Figures

On following pages: 29. Black-tailed Antechinus (Antechinus arktos); 30. Fawn Antechinus (Antechinus bellus); 31. Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), 32. Atherton Antechinus (Antechinus godmani); 33. Cinnamon Antechinus (Antechinus leo); 34. Swamp Antechinus (Antechinus minimus); 35. Buff-footed Antechinus (Antechinus mysticus); 36. Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartil); 37. Subtropical Antechinus (Antechinus subtropicus); 38. Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii).

Distribution. Western Australia, from Cape Range on the W coast and through the Pilbara region, N of the Hamersley Range E to the Clutterbuck Hills, 200 km W of the Western Australian/Northern Territory border, and on Barrow I. Rory’s Pseudantechinus is sympatric over the S & W partofits distribution with its congener, Woolley’s Pseudantechinus ( £. woolleyae ).