Mulgara - Diet

The diet of the Mulgara includes small rodents, insects and other arthropods, small lizards and snakes along with other small or newborn reptiles and even other small marsupials. It is able to consume up to 25% of its bodyweight.

Evidence would suggest though that the Mulgara does not drinks as such, nor eat succulent plants, gaining all of its moisture needs from its prey. Its kidneys have also developed the ability to concentrate the urine so as to preserve precious water.

Most hunting and foraging is done nocturnally, either by chasing its prey, or by seeking out insects and other small prey in rock crevices with its tiny and agile front paws.

When attacking larger animals it does so with extreme speed, then taking the time to methodically devour its prey very neatly to assure no precious food is lost. All that is left of the prey is a neatly inverted  skin devoid of any tissue.

The diet varies with seasonal availability of prey. During summer it appears to be predominantly if not totally, insects, whilst during winter and spring the ration of rodents increased to almost 50%. During plentiful times, Mulgaras build up Caudal Fat reserves for leaner times, thus making the condition of the tail an indicator of overall wellness and condition.

This adaptability of diet may also be a factor in maintaining a stable home range, and may also be a factor in the survivability of the species in an arid environment, even after the influence of European settlement.

The Mulgara also exhibits some Torpor, or reduction of metabolism, during daytime hours which would also help preserve energy and resources in an arid land, although the females do no exhibit torpor from immediately prior to birth through lactation.

 

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