Leporillus conditor

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Leporillus conditor

Species Authority:

(Sturt, 1848)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Greater Stick-nest Rat, House-building Rat
French	–	Rat Architecte
Spanish	–	Rata Arquitecto

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Morris, K. & Copley, P.

Reviewer/s:

Lamoreux, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) & Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because, although it is now present in as many as 8 sites, only 5 of these are considered "self-sustaining" for the purposes of this assessment. Populations on the islands are thought to be stable and reintroduced populations are also stable (possibly increasing). The species, however, still faces a number of major potential threats from: introduced predators, severe drought, extensive fire, and disease.

History:

1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Rare (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Rare (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1982	–	Rare (Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Australia, where it occurs naturally on the Franklin Islands, Western Australia. It was formerly distributed throughout much of the southern, semi-arid Australia, from the west coast of Western Australia to western New South Wales (Lee 1995). There are several translocated populations: Salutation Island (introduced/translocated), Heirisson Prong (reintroduced) (Western Australia); St. Peter Island (introduced/translocated), Reevesby Island (reintroduced), the Arid Recovery Reserve at Roxby Downs (reintroduced), Venus Bay Conservation Park (reintroduced) (South Australia); Scotia Sanctuary (reintroduced) (New South Wales).
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There are about 600 individuals on Salutation Island, probably about 1,000 on the Franklin Islands, and 1,000 on St. Peter Island. There are about 300 in the Arid Recovery Reserve (but it is uncertain whether this population is viable), a small number in Scotia Sanctuary, and less than 10 at Heirisson Prong (J. Richards pers. comm.). Total population size may be (about 4,000 individuals including juveniles).
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

There are about 600 individuals on Salutation Island, probably about 1,000 on the Franklin Islands, and 1,000 on St. Peter Island. There are about 300 in the Arid Recovery Reserve (but it is uncertain whether this population is viable), a small number in Scotia Sanctuary, and less than 10 at Heirisson Prong (J. Richards pers. comm.). Total population size may be (about 4,000 individuals including juveniles).

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in areas of perennial succulent and semi-succulent shrubland. Animals shelter in seabird burrows and amongst rocks (Lee 1995). On islands, the species lives in family groups of 10 to 20 individuals in large nests constructed of sticks. Females give birth to between one and three young after a gestation period of 44 days (Robinson 2008). Reintroduced populations on the mainland live in family groups of about 5-6 individuals.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is found in areas of perennial succulent and semi-succulent shrubland. Animals shelter in seabird burrows and amongst rocks (Lee 1995). On islands, the species lives in family groups of 10 to 20 individuals in large nests constructed of sticks. Females give birth to between one and three young after a gestation period of 44 days (Robinson 2008). Reintroduced populations on the mainland live in family groups of about 5-6 individuals.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Island populations are relatively secure (no introduced predators), but the threat of an accidental arrival of an introduced predator is a major concern as is severe drought and the possibility of an extensive fire and disease. Feral cats and foxes are a threat on the mainland, but these are excluded from the reintroduction sites. Introduced rodents may present a threat. This species declined on the mainland due to habitat destruction by introduced herbivores (sheep and rabbits), and the effects of severe drought. It is also presumed to have declined as a result of predation by introduced cats and foxes (Lee 1995).

Major Threat(s):

Island populations are relatively secure (no introduced predators), but the threat of an accidental arrival of an introduced predator is a major concern as is severe drought and the possibility of an extensive fire and disease. Feral cats and foxes are a threat on the mainland, but these are excluded from the reintroduction sites. Introduced rodents may present a threat.

This species declined on the mainland due to habitat destruction by introduced herbivores (sheep and rabbits), and the effects of severe drought. It is also presumed to have declined as a result of predation by introduced cats and foxes (Lee 1995).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES. It is present in a number of protected areas. Translocated populations have been established on suitable islands and on the mainland (mainland populations are within fenced areas). Remaining populations are monitored. A captive-breeding programme is in place. Other island translocations are recommended. Cataracts are a problem among captive populations, and are the subject of population genetics studies, the results of which have shown that this is a single-locus disorder (Barclay et al. in prep.). Other genetic studies include the genetic fitness of translocated populations. These studies show that most of the measurable variation in the relict has been transferred to most of the introduced populations (B. Sherwin pers. comm.). There are recommendations for augmentation of some populations (Barclay et al. in prep.), and a population viability analysis has been performed to assess the optimal rates of transfer between populations (Barclay et al. in press).

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of CITES. It is present in a number of protected areas. Translocated populations have been established on suitable islands and on the mainland (mainland populations are within fenced areas). Remaining populations are monitored. A captive-breeding programme is in place. Other island translocations are recommended. Cataracts are a problem among captive populations, and are the subject of population genetics studies, the results of which have shown that this is a single-locus disorder (Barclay et al. in prep.). Other genetic studies include the genetic fitness of translocated populations. These studies show that most of the measurable variation in the relict has been transferred to most of the introduced populations (B. Sherwin pers. comm.). There are recommendations for augmentation of some populations (Barclay et al. in prep.), and a population viability analysis has been performed to assess the optimal rates of transfer between populations (Barclay et al. in press).

Citation:	Morris, K. & Copley, P. 2008. Leporillus conditor. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2012.
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