Phascogale tapoatafa

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	DASYUROMORPHIA	DASYURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Phascogale tapoatafa

Species Authority:

(Meyer, 1793)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Brush-tailed Phascogale
French	–	Grand Phascogale

Synonym/s:

Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) ssp. tapoatafa

Taxonomic Notes:

Recent taxonomic work suggests that Phascogale tapoatafa sensu lato is composed of more than one species (Rhind et al. 2001, Spencer et al. 2001).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Menkhorst, P., Rhind, S. & Ellis, M.

Reviewer/s:

Lamoreux, J. & Hilton-Taylor, C. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Near Threatened because this species is in decline (but at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) because of habitat clearance, degradation, fragmentation, and the impact of introduced predators, making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable under criterion A2ce.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/near threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Brush-tailed Phascogales are endemic to Australia, where they occur in the eastern portion of the country, and in western Kimberley and south-western Western Australia. They are not found on any islands in Western Australia. The species is known from at least ten localities within northern Queensland and Cape York Peninsula, and they have most commonly been recorded around the Cooktown region (S. Rhind pers. comm.). There have been about 30 reports of phascogales since the 1970s, with records between 1976 and 1995 extending the known range south into northern Queensland by more than 500 km (S. Rhind pers. comm.). There are also records from the Rockhampton area (Ingram and Raven 1991). It was formerly widespread elsewhere in eastern and south-western Australia. The range has been reduced by about 50% since European settlement predominantly due to agricultural clearing, forestry practices, and deforestation associated with mining activities (Traill and Coats 1993; Rhind 2004). It is presumed to be extinct in South Australia.
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Abundance within its range is mostly unknown because the species eludes conventional faunal survey techniques. It is sparsely distributed and is typically reported from infrequent single sightings and/or captures. There is little information on the Kimberley population, which is represented by only 23 records (S. Rhind pers. comm.). In south-western Australia, the population fluctuates markedly in response to climatic conditions (Rhind and Bradley 2002). The species may have declined in the south-west in the last ten years; there are fewer records in spite of increased survey effort. It is presumed to be extinct in South Australia (last reliable record is from 1967). In Victoria, there have been major declines in the past, but populations appear to have stabilized more recently. In New South Wales phascogales are most commonly encountered on the north coast, particularly from Taree to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour and parts of the Hunter Valley. It is uncommon to rare in northern Queensland.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Abundance within its range is mostly unknown because the species eludes conventional faunal survey techniques. It is sparsely distributed and is typically reported from infrequent single sightings and/or captures.

There is little information on the Kimberley population, which is represented by only 23 records (S. Rhind pers. comm.). In south-western Australia, the population fluctuates markedly in response to climatic conditions (Rhind and Bradley 2002). The species may have declined in the south-west in the last ten years; there are fewer records in spite of increased survey effort. It is presumed to be extinct in South Australia (last reliable record is from 1967). In Victoria, there have been major declines in the past, but populations appear to have stabilized more recently. In New South Wales phascogales are most commonly encountered on the north coast, particularly from Taree to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour and parts of the Hunter Valley. It is uncommon to rare in northern Queensland.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is now largely confined to dry sclerophyll forests and open woodlands that contain hollow-bearing trees. It occurs more rarely in wetter forests. Brush-tailed Phascogales are arboreal, nocturnal, and largely solitary. Females typically give birth to eight young, or six to eight in south-western Australia (Soderquist and Rhind 2008). Males die soon after the breeding season, and females can live up to three years, but usually only produce one litter (Soderquist and Rhind 2008).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is now largely confined to dry sclerophyll forests and open woodlands that contain hollow-bearing trees. It occurs more rarely in wetter forests. Brush-tailed Phascogales are arboreal, nocturnal, and largely solitary. Females typically give birth to eight young, or six to eight in south-western Australia (Soderquist and Rhind 2008). Males die soon after the breeding season, and females can live up to three years, but usually only produce one litter (Soderquist and Rhind 2008).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Reduction in area of occupancy for this species has been predominantly caused by gross habitat alteration including continued habitat clearing and fragmentation. Habitat alteration as a result of logging and mining has also been detrimental to the species. The greatest current threat is the increasing decline in the availability of hollow-bearing trees. Predation by foxes and cats is also a threat. Male die-off makes this taxon particularly vulnerable to stochastic events. Reproductively viable populations require large areas of suitable habitat in order to persist because male home ranges are often greater than 100 hectares (Soderquist and Rhind 2008).

Major Threat(s):

Reduction in area of occupancy for this species has been predominantly caused by gross habitat alteration including continued habitat clearing and fragmentation. Habitat alteration as a result of logging and mining has also been detrimental to the species. The greatest current threat is the increasing decline in the availability of hollow-bearing trees. Predation by foxes and cats is also a threat. Male die-off makes this taxon particularly vulnerable to stochastic events. Reproductively viable populations require large areas of suitable habitat in order to persist because male home ranges are often greater than 100 hectares (Soderquist and Rhind 2008).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Recommended actions for this species include: taxonomic work to assess the status of the various regional populations; developing survey techniques for this species to increase knowledge of its distribution, population status, and to allow for monitoring; identifying key habitats and populations; determining the relative importance of threatening processes throughout its range; and determining the potential impact of 1080 baiting on phascogales in south-east Australia.

Conservation Actions:

Recommended actions for this species include: taxonomic work to assess the status of the various regional populations; developing survey techniques for this species to increase knowledge of its distribution, population status, and to allow for monitoring; identifying key habitats and populations; determining the relative importance of threatening processes throughout its range; and determining the potential impact of 1080 baiting on phascogales in south-east Australia.

Citation:	Menkhorst, P., Rhind, S. & Ellis, M. 2008. Phascogale tapoatafa. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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