Pseudantechinus woolleyae, Kitchener & Caputi, 1988

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 : 298

15.

Woolley’s Pseudantechinus

Pseudantechinus woolleyae

French: Dasyure de Woolley / German: Woolleys Fettschwanz-Beutelmaus / Spanish: Falso antequino de Woolley

Other common names: \Woolley's Antechinus, Woolley's False Antechinus

Taxonomy. Pseudantechinus woolleyae Kitchener & Caputi, 1988,

near Newligunn bore , 10 km from Errabiddy Homestead, 25° 33’ S, 117° 08’ E, Western Australia, Australia.

While examining specimens of purported P. macdonnellensis in collections of the Western Australian Museum, D. J. Kitchener and N. Caputi found dental variations consistent with a new species that occurred in close geographical proximity to P. macdonnellensis at Woodstock Station, Pilbara . They named this species P. woolleyae in honor of dasyurid reproductive biologist P. A. Woolley. There are currently six recognized species of dasyurid marsupial Pseudantechinus , or “false antechinuses”: bilarni , macdonnellensis , mimulus , ningbing , rory:, and woolleyae , macdonnellensis , and mimulus were both initially placed in the genus Antechinus , along with Parantechinus apicalis . G. H. H. Tate in 1947 erected a new genus, Pseudantechinus , for macdonnellensis and mimulus and a monotypic genus, Parantechinus , for apicalis . W. D. L. Ride dismantled these in 1964 and returned all three species to Antechinus . Woolley examined penile morphology of Ride’s Antechinus supergroup and proposed that macdonnellensis , bilarni , the undescribed “ ningbing ,” and apicalis formed a distinct group from other species of Antechinus . In light of this, M. Archer resurrected both of Tate’s genera, placing macdonnellensis and “ ningbing ” under Pseudantechinus and bilarni and apicalis under Parantechinus . Direct sequencing of mtDNA and nDNA has been conducted over the last decade, resolving P. woolleyae assister to all congeners, and P. ningbing was resolved as sister to a clade containing P. mimulus , P. macdonnellensis , and P. roryi . Monotypic.

Distribution. W Western Australia, across the Fortescue River Basin ( Pilbara ), W Ashburton, (Ashburton region), W one-half of Austin (Murchison region), and a single record from the Little Sandy Desert.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 10.7-10.8 cm,tail 7.5-8.5 cm; weight 35-50 g (males) and 30-45 g (females). There is subtle sexual dimorphism for size. Fur of Woolley’s Pseudantechinus is rich brown above and buff below. There are chestnut patches behind ears. Tail is fattened at base. Once confused with both the Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus ( P. macdonnellensis ) and Rory’s Pseudantechinus ( P. roryi ), Woolley’s Pseudantechinus can be distinguished from them in having three upper premolar teeth, with the third having a crown area more than two-thirds that of the second premolar; usually three pairs of lower premolar teeth (although the third may be very small); and by accessory erectile tissue of males not forming an appendage to the penis. In hand, richer color of Woolley’s Pseudantechinus (at least in specimens from the Murchison) is often distinctive. Woolley’s Pseudantechinus (30-50 g) is also larger than Rory’s Pseudantechinus (17-32 g), and these two species may co-occurin parts of their distributions.

Habitat. Apparently favors rocky habitats, in various vegetation associations. The distribution of Woolley’s Pseudantechinusis characterized by an arid climate with primarily summer rain and precipitation of 200-300 mm/year. Northern districts of Fortescue and Keartland have a tropical arid climate. Fortescue District has essentially tree and shrub-steppe communities of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) and Acacia (Fabaceae) shrubs over Triodia spp. (Poaceae) . Keartland District is shrub steppe. Ashburton District, however, is almost entirely mulga ( Acacia aneura ). Austin District is predominantly mulga ( Acacia ) low woodland on plains that reduce to scrub on hillsides and tree steppe of Eucalyptus spp. and Triodia basedowii on sand plains. Soil structure and topography vary greatly among these districts; however, Fortescue District is a rugged, mountainous region, chiefly of hard alkaline red soils on plains and peds with shallow, skeletal soils on ranges. Ashburton and Austin districts are primarily shallow, earthy loams overlying redbrown hardpan, with shallow, stony loams, a feature of hills and ranges. One Woolley’s Pseudantechinus from Karlamilyi (= Rudall River) National Park in Keartland District was from a small, stony hill of brown,salty sand, featuring 50% stones. In addition to Woolley’s Pseudantechinus occurring on small stony hills at Rudall River, it has been collected from gemstone-bearing country, granite-boulder country, and a rocky hillside; another specimen was captured in buffelgrass ( Cenchrus ciliaris , Poaceae ) on small saltflat plain. In a recent survey of the Little Sandy Desert (mid-Western Australia), five Woolley’s Pseudantechinuses were all caught on sandstone ranges.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available forthis species.

Breeding. A female Woolley’s Pseudantechinus carrying pouch young estimated to be less than one week old was captured in early October 1987. This female reared her litter of six young (four females and two males) in captivity, and subsequently she and four of her offspring were maintained in captivity. The young reached sexual maturity at ¢.10 months of age. Males and females entered breeding condition during the short annual season in up to four successive years. A litter of four resulted from mating the wild-caught female and her son in the breeding season oftheir second captive year.

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 [UCN Red List. Woolley’s Pseudantechinus has a wide distribution and presumably a large overall population. It occurs in a number of protected areas and lacks any known major conservation threats. Woolley’s Pseudantechinus has been recorded from a number of protected areas (e.g. Barlee Range Nature Reserve, Karlamilyi or Rudall River National Park, and Millstream-Chichester National Park). Further studies are required to clarify distribution, abundance, natural history, and threats to Woolley’s Pseudantechinus.

Bibliography. Archer (1982c), Baverstock et al. (1982), Burbidge, Cooper, Woolley & Morris (2008), How et al. (1991), Kitchener & Caputi (1988), Krajewski & Westerman (2003), Ride (1964), Start et al. (2013), Tate (1947), Westerman et al. (2007), Woolley (2008).

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. W Western Australia, across the Fortescue River Basin ( Pilbara ), W Ashburton, (Ashburton region), W one-half of Austin (Murchison region), and a single record from the Little Sandy Desert.