Kangaroo Island Dunnart

The Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis aitkeni) is a dark sooty-grey coloured dunnart species first discovered in 1969, with paler underparts of its body. It has an average body length of 170mm-198mm, a snout to anus length of 80-93 mm, a tail measurement of 90-105 mm, a hind foot of 17.5mm, ear length of 18mm and a weight which varies between 20-25 grams. The thin tail has the same colouring as described above.

Distribution and habitat

This dasyurid is found only on the western half of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, the island's only endemic mammal. The species inhabits mallee heath on laterite soils. Only 22 of the species have ever been found.

Social organisation and breeding

Little is known of the behavior of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart, but the mating season is thought to be from September to January. Female Kangaroo Island dunnarts are oestrous.

References

• Menkhorst, P.; Knight, F. (2001). A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Press. p. 68. ISBN 0-19-550870-X. 
• Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 34. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 

External links

• Threatened Species
• Australian fauna .com
• Dataset description
• The Distribution and Ecology
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