Dasyurus spartacus, Van Dyck, 1987

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Dasyuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 232-348 : 304-305

23.

Bronze Quoll

Dasyurus spartacus

French: Quoll bronzé / German: Bronzequoll / Spanish: Dasiuro de bronce

Taxonomy. Dasyurus spartacus Van Dyck, 1987 ,

Marehead , 8° 41’ S, 141° 39° E, Trans-Fly Plains , Papua New Guinea.

Until 1979, D. albopunctatus was the only quoll known from Papua New Guinea. Then, results of a mammal survey undertaken in the Trans-Fly Plains of south-western Papua New Guinea during 1972-1973 were published. These included five specimens of Dasyurus , then referred to D. geoffrou, collected at Morehead, Mibini, and Mari. These specimens were described as a new species, D. spartacus , based on morphology. Morphological analyses have indicated similarities in D. spartacus and D. albopunctatus , particularly in the appearance of their rather crowded premolar teeth. Genetic analyses of mtDNA and nDNA indicate that D. spartacus is surprisingly similar to D. geoffroii , positioning them with strong support as sisters. Monotypic.

Distribution. S New Guinea lowlands, known only from a small region of the Trans-Fly Plains in the Morehead area of Western Province of Papua New Guinea. There are unconfirmed reports of the species also occurring in Wasur National Park, Papua Province, Indonesia, and Tonda Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 34.5-38 cm (males) and 30-5 cm (females), tail 28-5 cm (males) and 25 cm (females); weight 684 g (females). There is sexual dimorphism in size. The Bronze Quoll could only be confused with the New Guinea Quoll ( D. albopunctatus ) among New Guinean mammals, but it is largerin size, has a smaller first toe, and a more hairy tail. The Bronze Quoll is the largest carnivorous marsupial on New Guinea but is dwarfed in size by some Australian quolls. In skull morphology, the Bronze Quoll differs from all other species of Dasyurus in the extreme narrowness ofits rostrum.

Habitat. Low-mixed savanna in Indorodo, Goe, and Mibini land systems, typically inundated and waterlogged during the wet season and burned during the dry season. These habitats experience a monsoonal climate where 75% of annual rainfall (1682 mm for Morehead) falls during a wet season in December—May. Trees average c.15 m in height, but some grow as tall as ¢.28 m. The most common plants include species from the myrtle family (e.g. Tristania suaveolens , Melaleuca symphyocarpa , and Xanthostemon crenulatus), Grevillia glauca, and Banksia dentata (both Proteaceae ). Less common species include Deplanchea tetraphylla (Bignoniaceae) , M. viridiflora, Eucalyptus polycarpa , and T. longwalvis (all Myrtaceae ), Acacia spp. (Fabaceae) , Dillenia elata ( Dilleniaceae ), Parinari nonda ( Chrysobalanaceae ), and Xanthostemon brassii ( Myrtaceae ). A patchy, open shrub layer 1-3-3 m in height contains Acacia leptocarpa (Fabaceae) , Choriceras tricorne ( Picrodendraceae ), Melastoma polyanthum (Melastomataceae) , Rhodamnia (Myrtaceae) , Acacia simsii, Timonius (Rubiaceae) , Glochidion ( Euphorbiaceae ), Sinoga lysicephala ( Myrtaceae ), and low Pandanus (Pandanaceae) . Ground layer (with cover of 80-100%) contains grasses such as Imperata cylindrical, Pseudopogonatherum irritans , Germainia capitata , and Eriachne squarrosa (all Poaceae ) and Cyperaceae sedges (e.g. Schoenus , Scleria , and Rhynchospora rubra). Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) and Dianella ( Xanthorrhoeaceae ) are typically present, and Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) , Drosera (Droseraceae) , and Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) occur in certain areas with very poor drainage.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. S. Van Dyck in his description of the Bronze Quoll suggested that the two juvenile museum specimens collected in May-June could have been born in February, assuming growth rates were similar to those recorded for congener, the Eastern Quoll ( D. viverrinus ). Subadults collected in August might also have been born in the early months of the year; however, differences seen in reproductive development of the three males indicate that births of Bronze Quolls are not highly synchronized. In one study, a captive female entered estrus only twice, in February and April, over a period of nine months between October and August. Thus, the Bronze Quoll may have a restricted breeding season and, like the Eastern Quoll, be facultatively polyestrous. Females may rear only one litter per season, but if the litter is lost prematurely, they have the opportunity to breed a second time.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Bronze Quoll has a fairly restricted distribution (extent of occurrence ¢.26,600 km?), and although it is poorly known (from only twelve museum specimens), it is almost certain that there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals in the wild. Its restricted distribution is remarkable because it appears to be absent from proximal (and apparently suitable) sites on mainland Australia. Indeed, the Bronze Quoll is evidently the only mammal in New Guinea restricted to the Trans-Fly region in the southern part of the island; all others can also be found in northern Australia. By inference from the decline observed in species of Dasyurus in Australia, most significantly the Western Quoll ( Dasyurus geoffroii ), it seems likely that the Bronze Quoll is also undergoing continuing decline.

Bibliography. Firestone (2000), Flannery (1995a), Leary, Seri, Flannery, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison, James & Woolley (2008), Menzies (1991), Van Dyck (1987), Woolley (2001).

Figures

On following pages: 2. Crest-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda); 3. Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei); 4. Kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae); 5. Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis); 6. Woolley's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis leucura); 7. Miller's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis melas); 8. Wallace's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis wallacii); 9. Tate's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis wavicus); 10. Sandstone Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus bilarni); 11. Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis); 12. Carpentarian Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus mimulus); 13. Ningbing Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus ningbing); 14. Rory’s Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus roryi); 15. Woolley's Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus woolleyae); 16. Speckled Dasyure (Neophascogale lorentzii); 17. Red-bellied Phascogale (Phascolosorex doriae); 18. Narrow-striped Dasyure (Phascolosorex dorsalis).

Distribution. S New Guinea lowlands, known only from a small region of the Trans-Fly Plains in the Morehead area of Western Province of Papua New Guinea. There are unconfirmed reports of the species also occurring in Wasur National Park, Papua Province, Indonesia, and Tonda Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea.