Kowari
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Scientific Name: Dasycercus Byrnei
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Common Names: Kowari, Kawari, Brush-tailed
Marsupial Rat, Byrne's Crested-tailed Marsupial Rat, Byrne's Marsupial
Mouse, Crested-tailed Marsupial Rat, Rat Marsupial A Double Crete
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Status: Vulnerable
The
Kowari is a small carnivorous marsupial, found in sparse populations in
the gibber
deserts and dry grasslands of Australia around the Lake Eyre region, Killalpanina,
the Simpson Dessert and west of Thomson Creek.
It weighs only around 100g, with a body measurement of 150mm and a 120mm
tail. The fur is olive-grey on the back with a white underbelly, limbs
and top of tail. The eyes have a white ring with pink ears and nose. The
back half of the tail is covered with bushy black fur.
Its diet consists of
insects, spiders, and small snakes, rodents, and lizards. It does not drink water,
getting all its moisture from the creatures it consumes.
Living in communal complexes of burrows, usually self built also burrows
made by other animals, it reaches maturity at around seven months of
age. The female has a one month gestation period, Female kowaris
experience a one month gestation, usually producing two litters per
season (April - December) with each litter averaging five young. At
three months of age the young are independent with a recoded (in
captivity) lifespan of six years.
Although communal, males Kowaris do act with ritualistic aggression towards
each another, but this usually does not result in injury. Interestingly,
the Kowari
marks its territory with scent.
Conservation Status - Vulnerable
The Kowari is generally listed as "Vulnerable" due with a declining population to
habitat loss and territory encroachment.
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Australia - Vulnerable
(Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
More Information
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Northern Territory - Data Deficient
(Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000)
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Red List - Vulnerable
More Information
Related Species:
