Grey-bellied Dunnart

Taxobox
name = Gray-bellied DunnartMSW3 Groves|pages=34]
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group|year=1996|id=40541|title=Sminthopsis crassicaudata|downloaded=12 May 2006]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
subclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Dasyuromorphia
familia = Dasyuridae
genus = "Sminthopsis"
species = ""'S. griseventor"
binomial = "Sminthopsis griseventor"
binomial_authority = (Kitchener, Stoddart & Henry, 1984)
range_

range_map_size =
range_map_caption =

The Grey-bellied Dunnart ("Sminthopsis griseoventer") was described by the same people Kitchener, Stoddart and Henry along with the Kangaroo Island Dunnart, Gilbert's Dunnart and Little Long-tailed Dunnart in 1984. They also described the Mallee Ningaui in 1983.

The average body length of a specimen can vary between 130-192 mm with a tail of 65-98 mm and body to anus of 65-95 mm. The olive grey ear's with a length of between 17-18 mm. The hind feet have an average length of between 16-17 mm. Its weight varies between 15-25 grams.

Distribution and habitat

Found in Western Australia on the coastal south west fringes and associated ranges. From north to south then to east, Gairdner Ranges to Cape Arid NP, its habitat rarely stretches 100km inland from the coast. A population was recently discovered in December 2003 in South Australia during a Department for Environment and Heritage Biological Survey on Eyre Peninsula in Hincks and Bascombe Well conservation parks. Habitat includes heathy forests, woodland, melaleuca swamplands dense mature heathland.No subspecies is identified.

ocial organisation and breeding

Nocturnal species that inhabits leaf litter and burrows.Breeding is done in a nest below ground a few centimetres, with 8 born in August for Boulenger Island and October of other areas. Only 1 litter is born.

Diet

This dunnart is a nocturnal omnivorous marsupial that eats insects, small mammals, reptiles an amphibians as well as soft fruit.

References

*cite book|title=Mammals of Victoria|first=Peter W.|last=Menkhorst|publisher=Oxford Press|year=1995|id=ISBN 0-19-553733-5

External links

* [http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/details.pl?pstrVol=MARSUPIALIA;pstrTaxa=899;pstrChecklistMode=1 Australian Biological Resources Study]