Rufous Bettong - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Aepyprymnus rufescens

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 12 Apr 2024

Description

Rufous Bettongs are small marsupials, 70 to 80 cm long from nose to tail. They have reddish-brown fur, including on the muzzle. They normally move quite slowly by placing the forelegs on the ground and bringing the hindlegs forward together, but can also hop like a kangaroo. When alarmed they stamp their hindfeet on the ground. They are known to use their tails to carry nesting material.

Distribution

The original range from Coen in north Queensland to central Victoria has been reduced to a patchy distribution from Cooktown, Queensland, to north-eastern NSW as far south as Mt Royal National Park. In NSW it has largely vanished from inland areas but there are sporadic, unconfirmed records from the Pilliga and Torrington districts.

Habitat and ecology

Rufous Bettongs inhabit a variety of forests from tall, moist eucalypt forest to open woodland, with a tussock grass understorey. A dense cover of tall native grasses is the preferred shelter.
They sleep during the day in cone-shaped nests constructed of grass in a shallow depression at the base of a tussock or fallen log.
At night they feed on grasses, herbs, seeds, flowers, roots, tubers, fungi and occasionally insects.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Changes to the grassy understorey by inappropriate burning and grazing.
Competition from rabbits.
Predation by feral cats and foxes, whose numbers appear to increase when dingoes are reduced through baiting.
Loss of habitat through clearing, logging and collection of fallen timber.
Poor knowledge of the species' abundance and distribution in the western parts of its range.
Lack of knowledge of species critical habitat requirements to identify priority areas for management
Insufficient understanding of appropriate fire regime. Fires can affect suitable habitat and food availability (e.g. particular hypogeous fungi species). Fire also removes cover for bettongs, increasing predation risk from foxes and wild dogs.
Habitat structure changes (e.g. grassy understorey) are caused by inappropriate burning, grazing and land use. Removing or modifying cover structure reduces availability of preferred vegetation (e.g. prickly vegetation, heath shrubland) for dens.
Lack of knowledge species taxonomy
Fragmentation, degradation, and loss of key habitats due to clearing for agricultural and rural residential development
Road strikes causing increased mortality of individuals traversing roads in reserves and private properties adjoining major roads.
Changes in vegetation structure within preferred habitat due to climate change.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 17 priority actions to help recover the Rufous Bettong in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Assist in the control of foxes and feral cats.
Manage burning and grazing to maintain the diversity and density of ground cover, including retention of fallen logs.
Retain and protect stands of native vegetation.
Protect forested corridors.
Enhance forested corridors.

Information sources

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2010) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. (Oxford University Press, South Melbourne)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Lower North Coast of New South Wales. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Fauna. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
Strahan, R. (ed.) (1995) The Mammals of Australia. (Australian Museum and Reed Books, Sydney)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Peel	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Binghi Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Round Mountain	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Severn River Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Carrai Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	North of Gloucester
NSW North Coast	Macleay Gorges	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None