Sminthopsis bindi, Van Dyck, Woinarski & Press, 1994

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 : 336

58.

Kakadu Dunnart

Sminthopsis bindi

French: Dunnart du Kakadu / German: Kakadu-SchmalfuRbeutelmaus / Spanish: Ratén marsupial de Kakadu

Taxonomy. Sminthopsis bindi Van Dyck, Woinarski & Press, 1994 ,

Eva Valley Station, Stage 3 , Kakadu National Park (14° 30" S, 132° 45’ E), Northern Territory, Australia.

The dunnarts ( Sminthopsis ) are an interesting group: speciose, morphologically similar, and genetically enigmatic. Indeed, a recent genetic phylogeny failed to support monophyly of the genus Sminthopsis with respect to Antechinomys and Ningaui .

Three deeply divergent clades of Sminthopsis were resolved: S. longicaudata was sister to A. laniger , there was the traditional morphologically based Macroura Group; and five Sminthopsis formed a strongly supported clade that included S. crassicaudata , S. binds, S. macroura , S. douglasi , and S. virginiae . This clade of five dunnarts was positioned as a poorly supported sister to the three species of Ningau: (N. ridei , N. timealeyi , and N. yvonneae). This combined clade of the five Sminthopsis and three Ningaui was itself positioned as a poorly supported sister to a well-supported clade containing the remaining species of Sminthopsis (13 species in the Murina Group). This largest dunnart clade contained a well-supported sister pairing of S. archeri with a clade containing five species: S. murina , S. gilberti, S. leucopus , S. butler , and S. dolichura . The first live specimen of S. bindi was recorded in 1980 during a fauna survey of Kakadu National Park, but its taxonomic position remained uncertain until twelve further specimens were collected in Kakadu in 1988-1990. These confirmed its specific identity and close morphological relationship to S. archeri from Cape York Peninsula. Genetically, however, S. bindi is relatively distant from S. archers; instead, S. bindi resolved as well-supported sister to a clade containing S. macroura , S. virginiae , and S. douglasi . Monotypic.

Distribution. N Australia, restricted to the Top End (Kakadu) region of Northern Territory.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 5-8-8:-4 cm (males) and 5.2-8 cm (females), tail 6-2— 10-5 cm (males) and 6.1-9.7 cm (females); weight 12-20 g (males) and 12-16 g (females). There is sexual dimorphism for size. The Kakadu Dunnart is pale gray above, with dark eye ring, pale area above eye, and sometimes poorly defined, darker head stripe. The Kakadu Dunnart is small with thin tail, non-fused interdigital pads on narrow hindfeet that have large, striate apical granules. It does not appear to develop a swollen-based tail typical of many other species of dunnarts.

Habitat. Eucalypt woodlands on stony hills from sea level to elevations of a few hundred meters.

Food and Feeding. Diets of Kakadu Dunnarts in the wild are unknown, but captive individuals have eaten a wide range of invertebrates, including large moths, crickets, and caterpillars.

Breeding. Breeding season of the Kakadu Dunnart has not been defined, butjuveniles have been reported in February-March and November, with pouch young in October.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but there is a record of a Kakadu Dunnart sheltering in a small burrow.

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Kakadu Dunnart is seldom recorded, butit has a relatively wide distribution (a sizeable portion of which is contained in Kakadu National Park). The Kakadu Dunnart has been found, rarely, at a series of other localities in the mainland Top End ofthe Northern Territory, extending from Bradshaw near the Western Australian border to Arnhem Land. The Kakadu Dunnart does not appear to face any major conservation threats. Domestic and feral cats are likely predators, but at low levels. Additional studies are needed to fully understand distribution, abundance, natural history, and threats to the Kakadu Dunnart.

Bibliography. Archer (1981a), Baverstock et al. (1984), Blacket, Adams et al. (2001), Blacket, Cooper et al. (2006), Krajewski et al. (2012), Thomas (1888b), Van Dyck et al. (1994), Woinarski (1992, 2008b, 2008c).

Figures

56. Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis aitken), 57. Chestnut Dunnart (Sminthopsis archer), 58. Kakadu Dunnart (Sminthopsis bindi), 59. Butler's Dunnart (Sminthopsis butleri), 60. Fat-tailed Dunnart (Smunthopsis crassicaudata), 61. Little Long-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis dolichura), 62. Julia Creek Dunnart (Smunthopsis douglasi), 63. Gilbert's Dunnart (Sminthopsis gilbert), 64. White-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis granulipes), 65. Grey-bellied Dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer), 66. Greater Hairy-footed Dunnart (Smunthopsis hirtipes), 67. White-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis leucopus), 68. Greater Long-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis longicaudata), 69. Stripe-faced Dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura), 70. Common Dunnart (Sminthopsis murina), 71. Ooldea Dunnart (Sminthopsis ooldea), 72. Sandhill Dunnart (Sminthopsis psammophila), 73. Red-cheeked Dunnart (Sminthopsis virginiae), 74. Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart (Sminthopsis youngsoni)

Distribution. N Australia, restricted to the Top End (Kakadu) region of Northern Territory.