Sminthopsis murina

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:

Sminthopsis murina

Species Authority:

(Waterhouse, 1838)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Common Dunnart, Slender-tailed Dunnart
French	–	Souris Marsupiale De Tate

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Dickman, C., Burnett, S. & McKenzie, N.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category. In some parts of its range, such as in Victoria, it may be undergoing steeper declines.

History:

1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Australia, where it is distributed over much of the south-east extending into north-eastern Queensland (Fox 2008).
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It is common in some parts of its range, but rare elsewhere (for example, thought to be uncommon in the southern part of its range). There may be declines happening in parts of its range.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in woodland, open forest, and heathland and is also known from transitional habitat at the edge of tropical moist forest (Fox 2008). The species appears to benefit from periodic burning of its habitat (Fox 2008). The female usually gives birth to two litters of up to ten young a year (Fox 2008).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In general there appear to be no major threats to this species, although predation by cats and foxes and habitat degradation may be resulting in some localized declines.

Major Threat(s):

In general there appear to be no major threats to this species, although predation by cats and foxes and habitat degradation may be resulting in some localized declines.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is present in a number of protected areas. There is a need to reassess the taxonomic status of the subspecies Sminthopsis murina tatei from Queensland. Populations of this species should be monitored because there may be declines in the southern part of its range.

Conservation Actions:

It is present in a number of protected areas. There is a need to reassess the taxonomic status of the subspecies Sminthopsis murina tatei from Queensland. Populations of this species should be monitored because there may be declines in the southern part of its range.

Citation:	Dickman, C., Burnett, S. & McKenzie, N. 2008. Sminthopsis murina. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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