Leporillus apicalis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Leporillus apicalis

Species Authority

(Gould, 1853)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Lesser Stick-nest Rat, White-tipped Stick-nest Rat

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Robinson, T. & Burbidge, A.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) because, although there are no confirmed reports of this species since 1933, there is a reliable record from 1970 and continued, occasional reports of fresh vegetation being added to old stick-nests. Much of this species' range is in remote portions of central Australia, which have not been fully surveyed. This species is probably extinct, but if it does persist its numbers would almost certainly be very small.

History:

1996	–	Extinct (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994	–	Extinct (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Extinct (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Extinct (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Extinct (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1982	–	Extinct (Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species formerly ranged widely through central and western Australia (Robinson 2008). The last specimen was collected near Mount Crombie in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands (Robinson 2008). No current location for the species is known.
Countries:	Possibly extinct: Australia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	This species is probably extinct, but if it does persist its numbers would almost certainly be very small. There are no confirmed reports of this species since 1933, however, there is a reliable record from 1970 and continued, occasional reports of fresh vegetation being added to old stick-nests (Robinson 2008).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It was found in arid areas of central Australia. The species made large nests of sticks in caves and overhangs (these persist today) (Robinson 2008). There may have been stick nests also in more open areas.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The species appears to have been a herbivore that was unable to compete with grazing by introduced sheep, cattle, and rabbits (Robinson 2008). Feral cats may have been a threat.

Major Threat(s):

The species appears to have been a herbivore that was unable to compete with grazing by introduced sheep, cattle, and rabbits (Robinson 2008). Feral cats may have been a threat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Any reports of the persistence of this species, including finds of recent remains, should be investigated to determine whether it is possibly still extant.

Conservation Actions:

Any reports of the persistence of this species, including finds of recent remains, should be investigated to determine whether it is possibly still extant.

Citation:	Robinson, T. & Burbidge, A. 2008. Leporillus apicalis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 November 2008.
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