Fat-Tailed Dunnart
It is a species of mouse-like marsupial. It has an average body length of 60–90 mm with a tail of 45–70 mm. One of the smallest carnivorous marsupials, its weight varies between 10–20 grams. Their eyes and ears are large, the snout is pointed and the tail is thick. During periods of abundant food, they store fat in their tails for a short time, due to which their tails become swollen, becoming thinner during the winter. These fat stores allow dunnarts to survive food shortages.
Habitat
The habitats in which the species can be found include sparse grasslands, open shrublands and farmlands where there is considerable bare land. The impact of unimproved farming has been positive for this species as the type of habitat created is suitable to this dunnart's requirements, but intensive agriculture is seen as a negative factor for the species. Fat tailed dunnarts can be found in most deserts in Australia, e.g. the Simpson Desert and Gibson Desert.
Diet
Their diet includes insects such as beetles, spiders, small reptiles, and amphibians. It stores fat reserves in its carrot-shaped tail for times of food shortage.
Breeding
They may exhibit either polygynous or polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating systems, having multiple partners over their short lifetime. Reproduction depends on weather conditions: if there are suitable conditions, females can breed and give births without breaks for up to 6 months. Fat-tailed dunnarts breed from July to February. Gestation period lasts for 13 - 16 days, yielding a litter of 6 - 8 young, sometimes up to 10. Females of this species are usually solitary nesters. They build their nesting sites from dried vegetation under logs, rocks or in deep ground hollows. Newborn babies remain in the pouch of their mother, before they leave it permanently at 60 days old. After that, the female can leave her young in the nest while she forages. Complete weaning occurs at about 70 days old. Sexual maturity is reached at 4 - 5 months old. Females first breed during the first year of their lives.
Population
According to IUCN, the Fat-tailed dunnart is common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. However, today this species’ numbers are stable, and it’s currently classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. They are common even in degraded and agricultural areas.
Threats
They generally suffer from the same threats as most small mammals in Australia. They are threatened by loss of their natural habitat. They compete with pest animals of their range. They are predated by cats, foxes and other feral species. And finally, these marsupials may be mistaken for mice and as a result, trapped.
Conservation
They are found in a number of protected areas.