Black-footed Tree-rat (Melville Island)

Mesembriomys gouldii melvillensis

Australia's Threatened Species Category

Vulnerable

Listed since: 26/06/2015

IUCN's Threatened Species Category

Vulnerable

Listed since: 19/07/2015

Population trend: Decreasing

Other names: None

Priority Species? No

The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.

Description

The Black-footed Tree-rat (Melville Island) is a nocturnal medium-sized native mammal and one
of the largest rodents in Australia and is restricted to the Tiwi islands, Northern Territory, where it occurs on Melville Island, but not on the adjacent Bathurst Island. On Melville Island it occurs mostly in tall eucalypt open forests and woodlands. The species is known to den mostly in tree hollows with their direct comprising of mostly fruits and seeds.

Threats

The main threats to the Black-footed Tree-rat (Melville Island) are inappropriate fire regimes, predation by feral cats and habitat loss and fragmentation.