Microperoryctes longicauda (Peters & Doria, 1876)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Peramelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 362-398 : 397

14.

Striped Bandicoot

Microperoryctes longicauda

French: Bandicoot rayé / German: Langschwanz-Mausnasenbeutler / Spanish: Bandicut estriado

Taxonomy. Peroryctes longicauda Peters & Doria, 1876 ,

“ Hatam, Mons Arfak ,” ( = Arfak Mountains, Bird's Head , Manokwari Division, Papua Province, Indonesia).

The striking west to east change in coloration and distinctiveness of the stripe patterns has long been taken as evidence of a geographical cline, the subspecies being separated by low-elevation valleys along Central Range. Forms dorsalis and ornata, however, appear to overlap in Star (= Jayawijaya) Mountains of central New Guinea, slightly larger dorsalis occurring above 3100 m and ornata at middle elevations of 1400-2600 m; there is no evidence of introgression between the two forms, but, on the contrary, some indication of character displacement in size and shape between them in Star Mountains overlap region, this suggesting that the two are probably separate biological species. Pending further work, a conservative approach is taken here, with dorsalis and ornata treated as distinct subspecies within M. longicauda . Four subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

M.l.longicaudaPeters&Doria,1876—ArfakMts,inEBird'sHead(=Vogelkop)Peninsula,NWNewGuinea.

M.l.dorsalisThomas,1922—WCNewGuinea(WsectionofCentralRange).

M.l.magnusLaurie,1952—SENewGuinea.

M. l. ornatus Thomas, 1904 — EC New Guinea (E section of Central Range).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 24-30.3 cm,tail 17.8-25.8 cm; weight 350-670 g. Males and females are similar in size. Fur is brown or gray dorsally, with variable rufous tinges, and dark stripes along top of head and flanks, and sometimes face, becoming bolder and more prominent from west to east across species’ range; ventral fur is creamy white in W forms, becoming darker in E; ears and tail are hairless. Nominate subspecies has dull gray and generally unpatterned body coloration; dorsalis is slightly brighter and more rufous, with pronounced dorsal stripe; ornata is distinguished by bolder patterning of dorsal pelage, a distinct dorsal stripe, and lateral stripes on rump; magna has bold stripes like ornata, but is larger and has both longer tail and darker ventral pelage than latter.

Habitat. Occurs commonly in primary, secondary, and disturbed rainforest and mossforest habitats, as well as in gardens, cane grass ( Saccharum , Poaceae ) thickets, and alpine regions above limit of trees. Its altitudinal rangeis from c.1000 m, possibly less in Arfak Mountains, to almost 4000 m, but it appears to be most common above 1400 m. Nests are constructed from leaves, moss, twigs and other debris in shallow burrows or on ground among grass tussocks or tree roots, and have a roof that provides some shelter from rain and predators; nests always have an escape route that reduces the chance of individuals being captured.

Food and Feeding. Little quantitative information is available, but this peramelid is reported to be omnivorous. It eats insects and other invertebrates, especially worms, but also includesfallen fruit and possibly small vertebrates in the diet.

Breeding. Opportunistic observations suggest that breeding can occur throughout the year, females suckling litters of 1-4 young. Two or three pairs of nipples may be present. Anecdotal observations indicate that young are left in a nest while the mother forages, and that mothers may associate with female young beyond weaning.

Activity patterns. Rests by day in its nest, and appears to be active mostly, or only, at night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No reliable information is available. Observations of relatively long associations between mothers and young and of up to five animals sharing a nest, however, are perhaps indicative of greater social tolerance by this species than is the case with most other peramelids.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The population trend is unknown. At the species level, the extensive distribution, local abundance, and occurrence in areas away from high-density human populations provide no indication that this bandicoot is currently under any threat. It appears to be susceptible in some local areas to overhunting, especially with dogs, and also to predation by feral dogs, but it still persists in presence of human settlement and may take occasional advantage of this proximity by raiding crops in village gardens. Status of the several subspecies has not been fully assessed, but presence of nominate, dorsalis and ornata at high elevations and in several protected areas along Central Range suggests that all are reasonably secure. Status of south-eastern subspecies, magna, is less clear; as this form has a very limited distribution and occurs near areas of high human population density, its prognosis may be somewhatless sanguine than that of its close relatives.

Bibliography. Aplin et al. (1999), Dwyer (1983), Flannery (1995a), Flannery & Seri (1990b), George & Maynes (1990), Groves (2005c), Groves & Flannery (1990), Helgen & Flannery (2004a), Hide et al. (1984), Laurie (1952), Menzies (2011), Tate (1948b), Westerman et al. (2001), Ziegler (1977).

Figures

9. Clara’s Echymipera (Echymupera clara), 10. David’s Echymipera (Echymipera davidi), 11. Menzies’s Echymipera (Echymipera echinista), 12. Common Echymipera (Echymipera kalubu), 13. Long-nosed Echymipera (Echymipera rufescens), 14. Striped Bandicoot (Microperoryctes longicauda), 15. Mouse Bandicoot (Microperoryctes murina), 16. Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot (Microperoryctes aplin), 17. Papuan Bandicoot (Microperoryctes papuensis), 18. Seram Bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum)

Subspecies and Distribution. M.l.longicaudaPeters&Doria,1876—ArfakMts,inEBird'sHead(=Vogelkop)Peninsula,NWNewGuinea. M.l.dorsalisThomas,1922—WCNewGuinea(WsectionofCentralRange). M.l.magnusLaurie,1952—SENewGuinea. M. l. ornatus Thomas, 1904 — EC New Guinea (E section of Central Range).