Wyulda squamicaudata

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	DIPROTODONTIA	PHALANGERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Wyulda squamicaudata

Species Authority:

Alexander, 1919

Common Name/s:

English	–	Scaly-tailed Possum, Ilangnalya
French	–	Possum À Queue Écailleuse

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

McKnight, M.

Reviewer/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Data Deficient in view of the absence of recent information on its threats and conservation status. There is concern that its habitat quality is declining and the degree to which introduced cats pose a threat is unknown.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/near threatened (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Apart from the type specimen, which came from Violet Valley in the east Kimberley, all records are from the high rainfall, near-coastal north-west Kimberley of Western Australia (Burbidge and Webb 2008). It has not been recorded in east Kimberley since 1917 and is thought to be extinct from here. It is also found on Bigge and Boongaree Islands (A. Burbidge pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: Australia (Western Australia)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There have not been many surveys within its range, and there are only isolated records. The species is sparsely and patchily distributed (Runcie 1999). Runcie (1999) found a density of 2.3-4.6 possums per hectare, which is nearly five times higher than that estimated by Humphreys et al. (1984). However, the study by Runcie (1999) was limited to one small area, and the results may not apply elsewhere (A. Burbidge pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

There have not been many surveys within its range, and there are only isolated records. The species is sparsely and patchily distributed (Runcie 1999). Runcie (1999) found a density of 2.3-4.6 possums per hectare, which is nearly five times higher than that estimated by Humphreys et al. (1984). However, the study by Runcie (1999) was limited to one small area, and the results may not apply elsewhere (A. Burbidge pers. comm.).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in low open woodland, using four different types of rock formations for dens during the day (it is highly dependent on these rock formations): rockpiles, sunken rockpiles, large rock slabs, and underground rock crevices (Runcie 1999). At night, it feeds on four species of trees (Xanthostemon eucalyptoides, X. paradoxus, Eucalyptus sp., and Planchonia careya) (Runcie 1999). One young is born between March and August (Runcie 1999).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is found in low open woodland, using four different types of rock formations for dens during the day (it is highly dependent on these rock formations): rockpiles, sunken rockpiles, large rock slabs, and underground rock crevices (Runcie 1999). At night, it feeds on four species of trees (Xanthostemon eucalyptoides, X. paradoxus, Eucalyptus sp., and Planchonia careya) (Runcie 1999). One young is born between March and August (Runcie 1999).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no data on threats, but this species is probably adversely affected by changed fire regimes and predation by introduced cats. On the Mitchell Plateau, proposed mining activity could affect this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no data on threats, but this species is probably adversely affected by changed fire regimes and predation by introduced cats. On the Mitchell Plateau, proposed mining activity could affect this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is occurs in Prince Regent Nature Reserve. Recommended actions (Maxwell et al. 1996) for this species include: monitor abundance at selected sites throughout range, including the islands; conduct research aimed at understanding the biology, ecology, conservation status, and requirements. There needs to be research on fire ecology.

Conservation Actions:

This species is occurs in Prince Regent Nature Reserve. Recommended actions (Maxwell et al. 1996) for this species include: monitor abundance at selected sites throughout range, including the islands; conduct research aimed at understanding the biology, ecology, conservation status, and requirements. There needs to be research on fire ecology.

Citation:	McKnight, M. 2008. Wyulda squamicaudata. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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