Phascogale pirata (Thomas, 1904)

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 : 325

45.

Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale

Phascogale pirata

French: Phascogale du Nord / German: Nordliche Pinselschwanzbeutelmaus / Spanish: Fascogalo de cola de cepillo septentrional

Taxonomy. Phascogale tapoatafa pirata Thomas, 1904 ,

South Alligator River , Northern Territory, Australia.

The trinomial Phascogale tapoatafa pirata was originally used to accountfor all northern Australian brush-tailed phascogales. Genetic and morphological research, however, has revealed clear differences between the Northern Territory population (pirata) and all other brush-tailed phascogales, including those in the Kimberley region (an unnamed subspecies of P. tapoatafa ) to the west and Cape York to the east (another unnamed subspecies of P. tapoatafa ). Thus, P. pirata is now recognized as a full species, endemic to the Top End. Genetic differentiation among P. pirata, P. calura , and P. tapoatafa was estimated using mtDNA (cytochrome-b gene), and 9-4-18-6% sequence divergence separated P. pirata and P. tapoatafa . This supports morphological distinctions between the two species. P. pirata and P. calurawere genetically divergent by 13-4-15-2%, which corroborated their clear morphological distinction. There are no known subspecies, but morphological differences between Melville Island and mainland individuals indicate need for further genetic examination. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Australia in the Top End of the Northern Territory and on Melville I; also recorded on Sir Edward Pellew Group of Is (West I) but no recent data.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 20.9-21 cm (males) and 15-188 cm (females), tail 20-20.8 cm (males) and 18-19.2 cm (females); weight 234 g (males) and 108-150 g (females); all measurements from two adult males and seven adult females. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale is sexually dimorphic for size. It is morphologically similar to the Common Brush-tailed Phascogale ( P. tapoatafa ) but with upper surfaces of hindfeet pure white (vs. grizzled in the Common Brush-tailed Phascogale); upper and lower surfaces of tail stem have cream-tipped black hairs (vs. lower surface with russet-tipped hairs in the Common Brush-tailed Phascogale); and ears are more elongate. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale also differs from the Common Brushtailed Phascogale in the Kimberley by having first interdigital and inner metatarsal pads of hindfeet fused rather than narrowly separated. Extensive white fur on belly and shorter, browner coat of Northern Brush-tailed Phascogales distinguish it from all southern and eastern Common Brush-tailed Phascogales.

Habitat. Tall open myrtle forests of Darwin woollybutt ( Eucalyptus miniata ) and Darwin stringybark (E. tetrodonta), although limited information is available. As with the Common Brush-tailed Phascogale, the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale is most likely dependent on woodlands for food (invertebrates found on and under bark) and tree hollows for shelter.

Food and Feeding. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale forages on the ground and in trees, mostly for invertebrates but also for some small vertebrate species.

Breeding. The very limited breeding information for the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale suggests a similar life history to its congeners: annual die-off of males, births mid-year, and litter sizes of up to eight young.

Activity patterns. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale is solitary, nocturnal, and arboreal, nesting within tree hollows during the day.

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red Lust. Listed as Vulnerable in Australia. Total population of the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale is estimated to be less than 10,000 mature individuals and may be less than 2500 individuals. Most likely, the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale formerly occupied areas across much of the Top End (Northern Territory), but today, its distribution is much more limited. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale was said to be common historically, although there are only c.10 records known from the mainland in the last decade, despite intensive survey work. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale was once present in the Daly River area, on Gove Peninsula, and the Sir Edward Pellew Islands, but there are no recent sightings in these areas. In 1897, Norwegian zoologist K. Dahl collected phascogales from around the Mary and Katherine rivers (200-400 km south of Darwin) and noted “nearly everywhere inland it was very constant, and on a moonlight walk one would generally expect to see this little marsupial.” Unfortunately, this is now far from the case; indeed, researchers have encountered fewer than ten individuals in the past decade, despite conducting more than an almost inconceivable 350,000 trap nights and 1000 hours of spotlighting spread across 3000 study sites in the north of the Northern Territory. There are two recent records from Melville Island and two records from West Pellew Island, but a recent survey of the Sir Edward Pellew Island Group was unable to locate it. The Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale is found within three protected areas: Litchfield, Garig Gunak Barlu, and Kakadu national parks. More surveys and monitoring are required to determine distribution, abundance, habitat requirements, and population trends of the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale. Targeted surveys need to be conducted because it is not readily trapped using standard (EIliott) trapping methods. Inappropriate fire regimes that alter understory to increase tall grasses (especially exotics) and habitat degradation associated with pastoralism are major threats to the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale. Clearing of vegetation is a threat in the western part of the mainland distribution of the Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale. On Melville Island, exotic tree plantations are detrimental and expanding. Introduced cane toads (Rhinella marina) and domestic and feral cats may also be a threat to Northern Brush-tailed Phascogales.

Bibliography. Dahl (1897), Rhind et al. (2008), Spencer et al. (2001), Thomas (1904), Woinarski (2004b), Woinarski, Legge et al. (2011), Woinarski, Rhind & Oakwood (2008), Woinarski, Ward et al. (2011).

Figures

On following pages: 41. Short-furred Dasyure (Murexia longicaudata); 42. Broad-striped Dasyure (Murexia rothschildi); 43. Long-nosed Dasyure (Murexia naso); 44. Red-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale calura); 45. Northern Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale pirata); 46. Common Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa); 47. Giles's Planigale (Planigale giles); 48. Long-tailed Planigale (Planigale ingrami); 49. Common Planigale (Planigale maculata); 50. Papuan Planigale (Planigale novaeguineae); 51. Narrow-nosed Planigale (Planigale tenuirostris); 52. Wongai Ningaui (Ningauiride); 53. Pilbara Ningaui (Ningaui timealeyi); 54. Southern Ningaui (Ningaui yvonneae); 55. Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger).

Distribution. N Australia in the Top End of the Northern Territory and on Melville I; also recorded on Sir Edward Pellew Group of Is (West I) but no recent data.