Puneet Varma (Editor)

Carpentarian dunnart

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Infraclass
  
Marsupialia

Family
  
Dasyuridae

Scientific name
  
Sminthopsis butleri

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Dasyuromorphia

Genus
  
Sminthopsis

Higher classification
  
Dunnart

Carpentarian dunnart wwwplanetmammiferesorgPhotosMarsupDasyurSmi

Similar
  
Alexandria false antechinus, False antechinus, Chestnut dunnart, Gilbert's dunnart, White‑tailed dunnart

The Carpentarian dunnart (Sminthopsis butleri) also known as the Butler's dunnart with a puffy brown or mouse grey colour above and the underside of white, similar to its close relative the Kakadu dunnart. Head to anus length is 75-88mm with a tail of 72-90mm long for a total length of 147-178mm. Weight varies from 10-20g depending on a variety of factors including sex, food abundance, habitat etc.

Contents

Distribution and habitat

Found in the Northern Kimberley's near Kalumburu in Western Australia and Bathurst and Melville Island in the Northern Territory. Habitat consists of eucalyptus and melaleuca forest with sandy soils up to and including 20 km from the coast. Also present on the island of New Guinea. In New Guinea found in grasslands and savannah in west of the island.

Social organisation and breeding

May breed in the dry season but needs more study.

Diet

No information, but most likely insects and small vertebrates.

References

Carpentarian dunnart Wikipedia