Small Marsupials
PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMAL MAMMALS FOR IDENTIFICATION
Most photos of small terrestrial mammals submitted to Canberra Nature Map for identification that were photographed in the Canberra suburban area are of a Black Rat (Rattus rattus). The next most likely species is the House Mouse (Mus musculus). Outside the city, at present, photos of Black Rats outnumber all other small mammal photos combined. However you may have found something different. Here are some tips for what to include in your photos to increase the potential for correct identification:
- An image that is sharp, not blurry;
- A scale;
- A view of the whole animal (preferably stretched out if it is a carcass);
- Views of every surface - (not always possible but ideally this includes a profile of the head, good views of the ears, the belly, the pads on the hind feet, and a good view of the fur and skin on the tail from below and above);
- Views of the teeth; and
- A count of the number of teats.
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Discussion
Antechinus mimetes mimetes
Sminthopsis murina
I'm not aware of a good reason for suppressing it because this species is not desirable for private captive keeping and is difficult to detect and difficult to harvest. On those grounds a lot of reptiles which we don't suppress would be better candidates for suppression imo. Also it is not the kind of species which both attracts people to view it and is sensitive to their presence like e.g. a Wedge-tailed Eagle nest. Please consult other opinions though, as well as mine.
Also I'm not aware of good reasons to concern ourselves with the question many people are raising in discussions on email and verbally, as to whether this animal originated from the captive colony at Tidbinbilla. (Apparently the gates were left open in 2020 when the bush fire was approaching.) The point is made in a way to discount the record. However if there are SBB living out there in the wild, it does not matter for conservation purposes whether their origin was deliberate reintroduction, accidental reintroduction, or whether they are a remnant natural wild population. Remains of SBB were found in eagle nests during WTE research in 2002 and 2003, well before there was a captive colony at Tidbinbilla. Therefore we have known since 2003 that there is a wild population of SBB somewhere in the Canberra area. If this record is not from that wild source, there is another wild source yet to be found in the area. You can contact me separately if you like on don.fletcher999@gmail.com or 0428 48 9990.
Isoodon obesulus obesulus
At the moment, the location information of the sighting is suppressed. However, this is undermined when the location is mentioned in your comment. Is there no longer a need to treat the location information with sensitivity?
Personally, I would support managing the information such that it is available as necessary to relevant people. This is despite the sighting being 2 years old, and of a deceased specimen, as sightings of this nature garner quite a bit of attention across the platform and beyond.
Would be happy to discuss it and hear your thoughts :)
Isoodon obesulus obesulus
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