 Family Dasyuridae
Ranging in size from the Tasmanian Devil with a head and body length of 65cm (22in) and weighing 9km (20lb) to the Pilbara Ningaui with a head and body length of <6cm (2in) and weighing 9.5gm (0.3oz). Little is known about many of these animals.
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| FEATURES |
- hairy-tailed
- pointed snouts
- teeth - lower incisors, well-developed canines, sharp cheek teeth
- aggressive hunters
- kill their prey by biting the back of the head and crushing the skull
- mainly nocturnal
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| DIET |
- prey depends on the size of the hunter: the Tasmanian Devil feeds on carrion but also on possums and wallabies while the other dasyurids live on small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fruits.
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Members of this Family are further subdivided into four groupings (subfamilies). |
SubFamily Dasyurinae
| GROUPING |
FEATURES |
NUMBER
OF SPECIES |
|
| Tasmanian Devil |
- eats carrion mainly
- not found on mainland
|
1 |
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|
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| Quolls |
- medium-sized
- once known as native cats
- distinguished by white spots
- 2 other species in New Guinea
- nest in tree hollows or in burrows
|
4 |
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| Mulgara |
- lives in arid, sandy areas
- dig burrows
- don't need water
|
1 |
|
|
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| Ampurta |
- distribution restricted to southwest QLD and northeast SA
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Kaluta |
- lives among spinifex tussocks of Pilbara region of WA
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Kowari |
- lives in gibber deserts of central Australia
- dig burrows
|
1 |
|
|
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| Dibblers |
- finds insects in leaf litter
- climbs trees to find insect prey
- also eats nectar
|
2 |
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|
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| Pseudantechinuses |
- tail acts as a storage area for food; the tail becomes fatter when food is abundant and thinner during drought
|
4 |
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SubFamily Phascogalinae
| GROUPING |
FEATURES |
NUMBER
OF SPECIES |
|
Antechinuses |
- claws on front paws
- search leaf litter for insects and small lizards
- males live for only a year; females may survive for 2 years
- found in a wide range of habitats
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7 |
|
|
|
Phascogales |
- skilful climbers
- will eat birds and small mammals as well as insects
|
2 |
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SubFamily Sminthopsinae
Commonly called marsupial mice.
| GROUPING |
FEATURES |
NUMBER
OF SPECIES |
|
Dunnarts |
- fold of skin on stomach acts as a pouch
- rest during the day in burrows
- live in a wide range of habitats
- 2 of the 19 species are also found in New Guinea
- mainly eat insects and spiders
- don't require free water
- some store energy as fat at the base of the tail
- can become torpid when no food available
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19 |
|
|
|
Kultarr |
- very long, brush-tipped tail
- found in desert areas of central Australia
|
1 |
|
SubFamily Planigalinae
The smallest marsupials.
| GROUPING |
FEATURES |
NUMBER
OF SPECIES |
|
Planigales |
- some are desert dwellers and don't require free water
- forage and nest in cracks and crevices - protection from environment and predators
|
4 |
|
|
|
Ningauis |
- found in arid areas
- obtain moisture from their insect prey and by licking dew from leaves
- during day, shelter in hollow logs, borrowed burrows, or undergrowth
|
3 |
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