Scientists from Curtin University, the Western Australian Museum and Murdoch University have identified three new species of mulgaras — small carnivorous marsupials related to the Tasmanian devil and quoll — and the researchers fear these new species may no longer exist in the wild.
Mulgaras (genus Dasycercus) are small carnivorous marsupials found throughout Australia’s arid and semi-arid bioregions.
These creatures prey on a large variety of small fauna, including small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates.
Throughout their distribution, mulgaras aid in ecosystem management, including via bioturbation (soil turnover) during burrowing and foraging for insect prey, with individuals using multiple burrows over their home range.
Australia lacks many large carnivorous species, owing to the extinction of megafauna at the end of the Pleistocene epoch.
As such, the natural ecological roles of carnivores in many regions are filled by smaller species such as mulgaras.
Since European arrival, mulgaras have experienced declines in their geographic distribution, most likely as a result of domestic cat predation.
Currently there are two recognized species of mulgaras: the crest-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda) and the brush-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus blythi).
Dasycercus blythi is known to occur over much of the arid zone, including sympatrically in some areas with Dasycercus cristicauda.
Specimens collected on the Canning Stock Route indicate that Dasycercus cristicauda occurs in sand dune environments, while Dasycercus blythi occupies Spinifex grasslands within the same geographic range.
“Our research had identified six species of mulgaras, as opposed to the previously accepted two and it also concluded that a third previously named mulgara, Dasycercus hillieri, was indeed a valid species,” said Curtin University Ph.D. student Jake Newman-Martin.
“However, Dasycercus hillieri and three new species (Dasycercus woolleyae, Dasycercus archeri and…
Read the full article here