Indicative distribution
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: Pseudomys fumeus
Gazetted date:
24 Sep 2010
Profile last updated:
07 Feb 2024
Description
The Smoky Mouse is similar in size to a small rat, with a head and body length averaging about 90 mm and a tail averaging 140 mm. The average adult weight is 52 grams (ranging between 38 - 68 grams). The fur is fine, soft, pale-grey to bluish-grey above, with a grey to white belly and a ring of dark hairs around the eye. The tail is long, narrow and sparsely furred, mostly pale to pinkish, with a narrow, dark stripe along the upper surface.
Distribution
The Smoky Mouse is currently limited to a small number of sites in western, southern and eastern Victoria, south-east NSW and the ACT. In NSW there are recent records from 5 sites Kosciuszko National Park with surveys ongoing and 2 records adjacent to the park in Bondo and Ingbyra State Forests; the remainder are centred around Mt Poole, Nullica State Forest and the adjoining South East Forests National Park.
Habitat and ecology
- The Smoky Mouse appears to prefer heath habitat on ridge tops and slopes in sclerophyll forest, heathland and open-forest from the coast (in Victoria) to sub-alpine regions of up to 1800 metres, but sometimes occurs in ferny gullies.
- Seeds and fruits from leguminous shrubs form the main summer and autumn diet, with some invertebrates, eg., Bogong Moths in the high country. Hypogeal (truffle-like) fungi predominate in winter and spring, with some flowers, seeds and soil invertebrates.
- May occur singly, as pairs or small communal groups based around patches of heath, sometimes comprising a male and up to five females sharing a burrow system.
- Breeding is in spring with one or two litters produced of up to four young.
- Nesting burrows have been found in rocky localities among tree roots and under the skirts of Grass Trees Xanthorrhoea spp.
- The persistence of colonies appears to be very ephemeral. It is not known how much this is due to natural fluctuations in food availability, but predation from feral carnivores appears to be implicated.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Loss of habitat, primarily through timber harvesting and road construction along ridges.
- Too-frequent burning, such as 4-7 years for hazard reduction burning, is likely to be deleterious to the shrub and hypogeal fungi resource.
- Predation from feral cats.
- Predation by foxes.
- Dieback caused by cinnamon fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi) - many of the heath plants in the habitat are highly susceptible.
- Uncertainty about the species' abundance/occupancy and distribution throughout the area.
- Feral herbivore grazing resulting in the reduction of food resources and the depletion of shrub cover.
- Predation from domestic cats and dogs from adjacent land holdings.
- Loss of site occupancy/low recruitment leading to metapopulation collapse.
- Senescing of understorey vegetation on long unburnt sites.
- Poor viability in wild, captive or translocated populations
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Ensure that personnel planning and undertaking hazard reduction burns are aware of habitat protection zones.
- Undertake fox, wild dog, rabbit and feral cat control programs targeting known high quality habitat and recently disturbed potential habitat.
- Apply fire regimes that maintain floristic and structural diversity in areas of habitat.
- Search for the species and suitable habitat in proposed logging areas.
- Implement low impact grazing regimes in known high quality habitat.
- Protect and maintain known and potential habitat, including the implementation of protection zones and habitat linkages across the landscape.
- Minimise the risk of Cinnamon fungus infection by avoiding transfer of soil into areas of habitat.
- Undertake captive breeding and supplementation of wild population
- Undertake translocation and re-introduction to feral free area Nungatta section of Southeast Forest National Park
Information sources
- Cockburn, A. (1995) Smoky Mouse Pseudomys fumeus. Pp. 598-9 in Strahan, R. (ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney.
- Menkhorst, P. (1995) Smoky Mouse. Pp. 219-20 in Menkhorst, P.W. (ed.) The Mammals of Victoria: distribution, ecology and conservation. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
- Menkhorst, P. and Broome, L. (2006) National Recovery Plan for the Smoky Mouse Pseudomys fumeus. Department od Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.
- Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2001) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Uni Press, Melbourne.
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