Fat-tailed dunnart

Dickschwänzige Schmalfußbeutelmaus

The Dickschwänzige Schmalfußbeutelmaus ( Sminthopsis crassicaudata ) is a Beutelsäugerart from the kind of Schmalfuß Bag mice, which is endemic to Australia.

Description

These bags mouse is one of the smaller members of their species. It reaches a body length 64-110 mm, which must be added a 51-70 millimeters long tail comes. The weight of this type ranges from 10 to 20 grams. Their fur is yellowish- brown in color, ears and head, they have dark spots. The tail is occasionally strongly thickened and serves as a fat storage. It was crucial for the scientific and German designation.

Distribution and habitat

Dickschwänzige Schmalfußbeutelmäuse are common in much of southern Australia. They are found in South Australia, the south-western Queensland, the Northern Territory southeastern, southern Western Australia, western New South Wales and western Victoria. Their habitat include grasslands and open bush country, but she avoids intensive agricultural areas.

Lifestyle and diet

These bags mice are nocturnal and live solitary or in small groups. Their diet consists of insects such as grasshoppers, moths and beetles.

Reproduction

The mating season of the Dickschwänzigen Schmalfußbeutelmaus is from July to February. After a gestation period 13-16 days, the female gives birth to 10 pups. This left the first time the mother's pouch after around 37 days and they finally leave around 70 days. The average life span of females is 18 months and at 15 of the males

Threat

The IUCN lists this species as uncritical ( least concern ).

Swell

• Peter W. Menkhorst: Mammals of Victoria. Oxford Press, 1995, ISBN 0-19-553733-5.

• Information at Animal Diversity Web
• Sminthopsis crassicaudata in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2007 Posted by: .. Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group, 1996, Accessed on 24 June 2008