Stripe-faced Dunnart - 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: Sminthopsis macroura

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 09 Jun 2022

Description

A mouse-sized marsupial which is pale grey-brown above, with white underparts and feet. It has a slender pointed muzzle and a distinct black stripe that extends from between the eyes to between the ears. Individuals weigh between 15–25 g. The total length of Stripe-faced Dunnart is approximately 180 mm, the tail is longer than the head-body length (the sympatric Fat-tailed Dunnart has a shorter tail length than the head-body length) and is often carrot-shaped.

Distribution

The Stripe-faced Dunnart is distributed throughout much of inland central and northern Australia, extending into central and northern NSW, western Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. They are rare on the NSW Central West Slopes and North West Slopes with the most easterly records of recent times located around Dubbo, Coonabarabran, Warialda and Ashford.

Habitat and ecology

Native dry grasslands and low dry shrublands, often along drainage lines where food and shelter resources tend to be better.
They shelter in cracks in the soil, in grass tussocks or under rocks and logs.
Co-occupies areas with the more common Fat-tailed Dunnart, but prefers relatively ungrazed habitats with greater diversity and healthier understorey vegetation.
The Stripe-faced Dunnart has the shortest gestation time of any mammal, with a gestation period of 10.5–11 days.
Captive animals are capable of breeding from June until February, and females are able to produce at least two litters.
In winter, animals enter torpor on an almost-daily basis to reduce energy costs.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Clearing of dry grassland and shrubland habitat for agriculture.
Heavy grazing and trampling of habitat by domestic stock.
Frequent and extensive fire in dry grasslands and low dry shrublands.
Predation by foxes and feral cats.
Removal of fallen timber.
Dunnarts are very sensitive to the organophosphorus pesticide fenitrothion which is used to control locusts. Even sublethal intoxication causes lethargy and temporary immobilization, thus increasing vulnerability to predation.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Ensure that domestic cats are kept indoors, especially at night.
Assist with the control of foxes and feral cats.
Manage burning off activities to maintain native grasslands and shrublands with a patchwork of burnt and unburnt areas.
Reduce heavy grazing by livestock in areas of potential habitat.
Leave fallen timber on ground in areas of potential habitat.
Conserve and protect areas of dry shrubland and grassland, especially tussock grasslands which are favoured.
Use alternatives to fenitrothion (e.g. metarhizium) during locust control programs in dunnart habitat.
Report any records of the Stripe-faced Dunnart to the DPE or NSW BioNet Atlas.

Information sources

Ayers, D. (1995) Endangered Fauna of Western New South Wales. NSW NPWS, Sydney, NSW.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
Story, P. et al. (2011) Acute oral toxicity of the organophosphorus pesticide fenitrothion to Fat-tailed and Striped-faced Dunnarts and its relevance for pesticide risk assessments in Australia. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 30 (5) 1163-1169.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Known	None
Channel Country	Bulloo	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo Dunefields	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Core Ranges	Known	None
Channel Country	Sturt Stony Desert	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Urisino Sandplains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Known	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields	Strzelecki Desert	Known	None

Images

Stripe-faced Dunnart Viridans Images
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Nature conservation

Threatened species