Dasycercus cristicauda (Krefft)

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 : 290

2.

Crest-tailed Mulgara

Dasycercus cristicauda

French: Mulgara a queue en créte / German: Kammschwanz-Beutelmaus / Spanish: Mulgara de cola crestada

Other common names: Ampurta, Mulgara

Taxonomy. Chaetocercus cristicauda Krefft, 1867 ,

probably Lake Alexandrina, South Australia, Australia.

A limited molecular study of the genus Dasycercus in 2000 determined that there were two species to which the names D. cnsticauda and D. hillieri (originating with O. Thomas in 1905) were assigned. It has since been established that the correct names for the two species are D. blythi and D. cristicauda ; D. hillier: has been synonymized with D. ¢risticauda. Since then, molecular studies, using mtDNA and nDNA, have confirmed a distinct divergence between D. cristicauda and D. blythi, which were well resolved and phylogenetically positioned as sisters; the two Dasycercus in turn were clearly resolved assister to Dasyuroides byrne . A suite of ecological studies was conducted on Dasycercus from 1980 to 2003. These were thought to have been on D. cristicauda , but it has been confirmed that the animals were misidentified: they were actually D. blythi. As a result, there is a paucity of ecological information for D. cristicauda . Monotypic.

Distribution. Australia, in recent times recorded only in the deserts along the borders of S Northern Territory, CN South Australia, and SW Queensland; formerly more widespread in W & S Australia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 13-23 cm (males) and 12-17 cm (females), tail 8-12.5 cm (males) and 8-11 cm (females); weight 110-185 g (males) and 65-120 g (females). There is sexual dimorphism forsize. Fur of the Crest-tailed Mulgara is tan to ginger above and on tail and creamy white below. There is a conspicuous, fin-like crest of black hairs on tail. The Crest-tailed Mulgara can be confused withits sister taxon, the Brush-tailed Mulgara (D. blythi). Tail morphology is the best way to tell the two species apart. Both species have hairy, black-tipped tails: however, the Brush-tailed Mulgara has an evenly furred, brushy tail, whereas hairs on dorsaltail surface of the Crest-tailed Mulgara are long and form a fin-like crest. The Crest-tailed Mulgara is also generally more brightly (rufous) colored than the Brush-tailed Mulgara. Number of premolar teeth was thought to be a discriminating character, but recent work has shown thatit is inconsistent between the species. Nipple numbers of females are different: six in the Brush-tailed Mulgara and eight in the Crest-tailed Mulgara. Nevertheless, this character is rarely diagnostic because unless females are heavily pregnant or have recently given birth, nipples are rarely visible. Furthermore, if the pouch is notfilled to capacity with young, unused nipples quickly regress to pre-birth condition and are very difficult to see with the naked eye.

Habitat. Arid zone in central Australia but apparently not as widely distributed as the Brush-tailed Mulgara. The Crest-tailed Mulgara appears to be more limited to dune fields. It is often found on sand dunes with a sparse cover of sandhill canegrass ( Zygochloa paradoxa) or spinifex ( Triodia ), both Poaceae , or areas around salt lakes with associated nitre bush (Nitraria billardieri, Zygophyllaceae ). Burrows of Crest-tailed Mulgaras occur predominantly on dunes, mostly at the base of large canegrass clumps or spinifex or nitre bush hummocks. In one recent study, Crest-tailed Mulgaras were trapped only on crests and slopes of sand ridges. Gradients in 7riodia cover may be more important than presence or absence of canegrass. Seven sand-ridge sites were monitored, and Crest-tailed Mulgaras occurred only on two sites with more than 30% cover of Triodia basedowii. For the remaining sand-ridgesites, average Triodia cover was less than 5%. Researchers observed a burrow at the base of a Triodia clump, suggesting that presence of this grass species directly influences burrow opportunities for Cresttailed Mulgaras. Plausibly, Triodia has the same function as canegrass: stabilization of otherwise mobile sand for burrows’ structural integrities.

Food and Feeding. Little is known about the diet of Crest-tailed Mulgaras. They are opportunistic and non-specialist carnivores, foraging along dune crests and flanks, with forays down into swales.

Breeding. Reproductive cycle of the Crest-tailed Mulgara is likely similar to that of the Brush-tailed Mulgara. The Crest-tailed Mulgara gives birth to up to eight young in winter and early spring; independent young can be found in spring to early summer. In one study, a pregnant female was caught in June, one with pouch young was caught in September, and lactating females were caught in September—November. In another study, a female with pouch young was caught in June. Some observations on reproduction were made on five male and three female Crest-tailed Mulgaras taken from Sandringham Station, Queensland, and kept in captivity for periods ranging from three months to two years. Males showed spermatorrhoea from early April to late June. Females entered estrus in late April to early May and exhibited maximal pouch developmentin late June and early July. Individuals were paired, but no mating was observed; no pouch young resulted. Males and females entered breeding condition in two consecutive years. Males judged to be reproductively mature (weights 170 g and 172 g) and juveniles (70 g and 90 g) were collected in December, and one subadult (116 g) was taken in February. Two of three females captured in February were judged to be subadult (65 g and 69 g) and one mature (94 g, pouch fur stained, with eight elongated nipples).

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, butit is predominantly nocturnal.

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 Lust. Listed as Endangered in Australia under the synonym D. hillieri. The Crest-tailed Mulgara once occurred in a wider area including central and eastern Western Australia, southern Northern Territory, central and northern South Australia, and far western Queensland. For example, after the Western Australian Canning Stock Route Expedition of 1930-31 to recondition the wells, L. Glauert reported that Dasycercus (as D. cristicauda ) was “one of the commonest mammals along the stock route from Wiluna to Hall's Creek,its southern limit being near Well 26.” It was not recognized at the time that the Western Australian Museum taxidermist O. Lipfert had collected both species of Dasycercus . Fifty specimens were collected along the stock route from Well 26 (22° 55’ S) in the south to Well 47 (20° 28’ S) in the north. Twenty-four specimens were subsequently identified as the Crest-tailed Mulgara and 16 as the Brush-tailed Mulgara; the two species are sympatric in some areas, such as Andado Station (Northern Territory) in the western Simpson Desert. Recent reassessment of the Crest-tailed Mulgara distribution based on examination of museum specimens indicates it is likely broadly distributed across Australia’s inland arid zone and perhaps even common in some areas. However, because this apparent broader distribution is not yet clearly defined, a smaller distribution is illustrated here for this species. Assessment of the conservation status of the two currently recognized species of Dasycercus depends on correct identification of specimens and also on regular surveys to confirm persistence of populations across the distribution of each species. In particular, voucher specimens are essential for examination of morphological features and genetic banks. Past assessments have not been based entirely on correctly identified specimens. The Crest-tailed Mulgara is vulnerable to predation by domestic and feral cats (Felis catus) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), which are widespread and readily prey on mulgaras in arid Australia.

Bibliography. Adams et al. (2000), Chen Xiaolin et al. (1998), Gibson & Cole (1992), Lee et al. (1982), Masters (1993, 1998, 2003, 2008), Masters et al. (2003), Pavey, Burwell et al. (2009), Pavey, Nano et al. (2011), Thomas (1905), Westerman et al. (2007), Woolley (1971a, 1990a, 2005a, 2006), Woolley et al. (2013), Wood Jones (1949).

Figures

On following pages: 29. Black-tailed Antechinus (Antechinus arktos); 30. Fawn Antechinus (Antechinus bellus); 31. Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), 32. Atherton Antechinus (Antechinus godmani); 33. Cinnamon Antechinus (Antechinus leo); 34. Swamp Antechinus (Antechinus minimus); 35. Buff-footed Antechinus (Antechinus mysticus); 36. Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartil); 37. Subtropical Antechinus (Antechinus subtropicus); 38. Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii).

Distribution. Australia, in recent times recorded only in the deserts along the borders of S Northern Territory, CN South Australia, and SW Queensland; formerly more widespread in W & S Australia.