Marsupial Mole

Amy Mutton

Zoologist

Species and Communities Branch

Science and Conservation Division

Notoryctes species

Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Notoryctemorphia Family: Notoryctidae

Notoryctes caurinus (Thomas, 1920)

Northern Marsupial Mole Kakarratul

Notoryctes typhlops (Stirling, 1889)

Southern Marsupial Mole Itjaritjari or Yitjaritjari

Wildlife Conservation Act 1950

Specially Protected

Western Australian State Government - Department of Parks and Wildlife

• 30 April 1996, Government Gazette No. 57

• Listed as “Specially Protected” by the Minister under section 14

• Declared as “fauna which is rare or likely to become extinct”

• Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice

Published under Schedule 1 (Threatened)

Reason for nomination: Less common than previously thought, and Significant distribution change or habitat alteration

Conservation Status WA State legislation

Conservation Status WA State

WA Rank: Endangered (EN)

Rank “Endangered” assigned by the WA Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) in 2000 using IUCN (1994) categories and criteria, and assigned criteria A1c + 2c An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 50 % over the last 10 years or 3 generations, whichever is longer based on a decline in AOO, EOO and or habitat quality; and

A reduction of at least 50 % projected or suspected to be met within the next 10 years or 3 generations whichever is longer based on AOO, EOO and or habitat quality.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

Endangered

Australian Government - Department of the Environment

• 11 July 2000 • Federal Register of Legislative Instruments - Commonwealth of Australia • Declaration under s178, s181, and s183 of the EPBC Act

Former legislation: Endangered Species Protection Act 1992

Endangered

Conservation Status National legislation

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972

Vulnerable

South Australian State Government - Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

• Listed as “Vulnerable” under Schedule 7 • Previously listed as “Endangered”

Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000

Vulnerable

Northern Territory - Parks and Wildlife Commission

• The southern marsupial mole is currently classified as “Vulnerable” under criterion C1 based on: • Population size estimated to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals; • An estimated continuing decline of at least 10 % within 10 years or three

generations, whichever is longer

Conservation Status SA & NT legislation

Red List of Threatened Species

Data Deficient Justification:

• Listed as Data Deficient because, although it has been recorded over a relatively wide area, little is known about its population numbers and threats.

Date assessed: 30 June 2008 Assessors: Dickman, C., Burbidge, A., Aplin, K. & Benshemesh J.

Previous assessments/reviews: 1996 – Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Conservation Status

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Mammal Action Plan The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012

(July 2014)

Least Concern New knowledge: “Recent surveys using novel techniques have shown the species to be widespread and relatively common.”

– Not eligible under any of the current IUCN Red List criteria – No evidence of population decline approaching 30 % in 3 generations (30 years) – EOO > 20,000 km2, > 2000 km2

– Population size unknown but probably > 10,000 mature individuals – Population not restricted, population > 1000 mature individuals – Previous assessment: “At the time it was unknown if the low rate of sightings and specimen acquisition was

due to increasing rarity or to a relatively common species that is infrequently observed because of its fossorial behaviour.”

The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes

– Endangered A1c, 2c – No decline documented - extremely cryptic species – Lack of recent records - cause for concern – Arid zone ‘Critical Weight Range’ species – Threatening processes: predation by foxes and feral cats, changed fire regimes

Australasian Marsupials and Monotremes: An Action Plan for their Conservation 1992 – Potentially vulnerable (little known, uncertain status)

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, Vol. 14

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia Vol. 14 (1890 – 1891) Drawing: Rosa C. Fiveash, Lithograph: H. Barrett.

D’apres “A hand-book to the marsupiala and monotrema” par. R. Lydekker – 1896 Gravures de marsupiaux et monotremes, taupe marsupiale ou grande taupe - marsupial mole - Notoryctes typhlops

Cabrera (1919). Genera Mammalium: Monotrema & Marsupialia. Museo Nacional De Ciencias Naturales. Madrid.

Parker, T.J & Haswell, W.A. (1910). A Text-book of Zoology. Vol. 2. MacMillan and Co. Ltd, London. [Phylum Chordata, page 495.]

Newman, H.H. (1926). Vertebrate Zoology. The MacMillan Company, New York. [Mammalia, page 355.]

The Mammals of Australia (2008) Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, R. (Eds.)

The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012 (2014) Woinarski, J.C.Z., Burbidge, A.A., & Harrison, P.L.

The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes (1996) Maxwell S., Burbidge, A.A., & Morris, K.

Records 1970 -1996

Records 1993 - 2012

Describe the distribution of the distinct lineages of marsupial moles 1. Resolve the taxonomy and determine appropriate management units 2. Describe the distribution and provide indices of the abundance of the distinct

lineages of marsupial moles

Determine trends in populations 3. Determine population trends of the distinct lineages of marsupial moles

Provide preliminary information on threats 4. Provide preliminary information on the threat of fire, introduced predators such

as foxes and cats, and grazing

Learn about the ecology 5. Describe activity patterns and ranging behaviour 6. Obtain ecological information from Aboriginal elders 7. Examine the diet, reproductive state and general condition of surfacing animals 8. Prepare for captive individuals brought to Desert Park

Manage the recovery process 9. Manage the recovery process through a recovery team 10. Downlist species from endangered to a lower category of threat

Recovery Plan for Marsupial Moles Notoryctes typhlops and N. caurinus 2005-2010

Recovery Plan Objectives and Actions

Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012 – suggestions

Key knowledge gaps for research, the key threats and the key management activities

All maps in this presentation are considered drafts and should not be used for reference or reproduced without permission of the Zoologist, Species and Communities

Branch, Parks and Wildlife. fauna@dpaw.wa.gov.au

Disclaimer: The State of Western Australia and its employees do not guarantee that this publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore

disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.