The sandhill dunnart is a species of carnivorous marsupial from 4 scattered semi-arid regions of Australia: Lake Amadeus in Northern Territory, the central and eastern Eyre Peninsula in southern Australia, the southwestern & western edges of the Great Victoria Desert in western Australia, and at Yellabinna in southern Australia. These dunnarts face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of agriculture, fires and fire suppression; and invasive species, that result in predation. The IUCN lists these critters as Vulnerable. Their population trend is listed as decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Sminthopsis psammophila
Weight: Up to 1.9 ounces
Length: Up to 6.3 inches, plus up to a 5.24 inch tail
Lifespan: Up to 6 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) The genus name of dunnart was most likely derived from the Noongar word “danard”.
2.) They are the 2nd largest of the 19 dunnart species, with the Julia Creek dunnart being number 1.
3.) Ants, beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, spiders, termites, and wasps are all on the menu.
4.) Snails, slugs, geckos, skinks, and mice are also happily feasted upon.
5.) If food becomes scarce, they will enter into brief periods of torpor (a restful state for mammals).
But wait, there’s more on the sandhill dunnart!
6.) They are nocturnal (active at night).
7.) Females undergo up to a 19 day gestation (pregnancy).
Did you know…?
There are only an estimated 10,000 of these dunnarts remaining, to date.
8.) Once in the marsupium (pouch) the joey takes an additional 40 days to develop.
9.) Burrows can be as deep as 6.56 feet.
10.) Rangers in Tjuntjuntjara, the Pila Nguru have established conservation programs in sandhill dunnart habitats.
Now a Short Sandhill Dunnart Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board
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