Pseudomys novaehollandiae
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
MAMMALIA |
RODENTIA |
MURIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Pseudomys novaehollandiae |
| Species Authority: |
(Waterhouse, 1843) |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
New Holland Mouse |
|
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Pseudomys pilligaensis is treated as a separate species following Musser and Carleton (2005), but it might be best considered a population of P. delicatulus that shows evidence of past hybridization with P. novaehollandiae (F. Ford pers. comm.). |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Vulnerable
C1+2a(i)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2008 |
| Assessor/s: |
Menkhorst, P., Dickman, C., Denny, M., Aplin, K., Lunney, D. & Ellis, M. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Lamoreux, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) & Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because its population is estimated to be less than 10,000 mature individuals, there is a predicted ongoing decline of at least 10% over the next ten years, and there are not more than 1,000 species in any one subpopulation.
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
New Holland Mouse is endemic to Australia where it is patchily distributed in southern Victoria, eastern New South Wales, extreme southern Queensland, Flinders Island, and north-eastern Tasmania (Kemper and Wilson 2008). The population in Anglesea, Victoria has shown to be distinct from other populations. This species has been recorded from sea level up to around 900 m asl. |
| Countries: |
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| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
This species is common within its limited habitat in New South Wales (Kemper and Wilson 2008), although populations here are known to fluctuate. It is rare in Tasmania and Queensland, and is very patchily distributed in Victoria in small localities.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It is found in dry heathland and open forest habitats in coastal areas, and dry sandstone areas further inland. Within these habitats it prefers successional vegetation (often following a year or two after a burn) with a sandy substrate, a layer of leguminous perennials and sparse ground cover (Kemper and Wilson 2008). The females give birth to between two and six young after 32 days (Kemper and Wilson 2008).
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The species may be threatened by permanent clearing of habitat, urbanisation, and changes in fire regime (Kemper and Wilson 2008). In Victoria the populations are now very fragmented and prone to extinction.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
It has been recorded from several protected areas. There is a need to maintain patches of habitat at the appropriate stage of succession. There is an Action Statement in Victoria outlining a recovery plan for this species in the state. There is a need for systematic research into this species.
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