Pseudomys desertor

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pseudomys desertor

Species Authority:

Troughton, 1932

Common Name/s:

English

–

Desert Mouse, Brown Desert Mouse

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Read, J. & Woinarski, J.

Reviewer/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern despite its fluctuating population size and the presence of some threats, because it is very widespread, present in protected areas, and it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/near threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Australia, where it ranges widely throughout much of the arid central zone and parts of the semi-arid tropics (Kerle et al. 2008). The species' range extended further south in the past.
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The abundance of this species varies greatly in response to levels of rainfall. It can be common after a number of heavy rains (Kerle et al. 2008). The population also changes in response to fires; the species prefers unburnt areas.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is found in a wide range of habitats, including savanna woodland, shrubland, and grassland, mostly within a zone of rainfall of 500-750 mm (Kutt et al. 2004). The presence of dense groundcover of either grasses, sedges, or shrubs is very important (Kerle et al. 2008). This species can breed throughout the year, and females give birth to an average of three young after a gestation period of 27 to 28 days (Kerle et al. 2008).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is found in a wide range of habitats, including savanna woodland, shrubland, and grassland, mostly within a zone of rainfall of 500-750 mm (Kutt et al. 2004). The presence of dense groundcover of either grasses, sedges, or shrubs is very important (Kerle et al. 2008). This species can breed throughout the year, and females give birth to an average of three young after a gestation period of 27 to 28 days (Kerle et al. 2008).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Superficially this species appears to be tolerant of habitat disturbance, however, new evidence suggests that it is less common in areas that experience fire or grazing (Kutt et al. 2004). Thus it could be threatened by changes in fire regimes and grazing over parts of its range. Introduced grasses might be another threat, especially in Queensland.

Major Threat(s):

Superficially this species appears to be tolerant of habitat disturbance, however, new evidence suggests that it is less common in areas that experience fire or grazing (Kutt et al. 2004). Thus it could be threatened by changes in fire regimes and grazing over parts of its range. Introduced grasses might be another threat, especially in Queensland.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is present in Uluru National Park and many other protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

It is present in Uluru National Park and many other protected areas.

Bibliography [top]

	IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008). Kerle, J. A., Kutt, A. S. and Read, J. L. 2008. Desert Mouse, Pseudomys desertor. In: S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan (eds), The mammals of Australia. Third Edition, pp. 625-626. Reed New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Kutt, A. S., Thurgate, N. Y. and Hannah, D. S. 2004. Distribution and habitat of the desert mouse (Pseudomys desertor) in Queensland. Wildlife Research 31: 129-142.

IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).

Kerle, J. A., Kutt, A. S. and Read, J. L. 2008. Desert Mouse, Pseudomys desertor. In: S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan (eds), The mammals of Australia. Third Edition, pp. 625-626. Reed New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Kutt, A. S., Thurgate, N. Y. and Hannah, D. S. 2004. Distribution and habitat of the desert mouse (Pseudomys desertor) in Queensland. Wildlife Research 31: 129-142.

Citation:	Read, J. & Woinarski, J. 2008. Pseudomys desertor. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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