Kangaroo Island Dunnart
Sminthopsis griseoventer aitkeni
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: 27/08/2023
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Least Concern
Listed since: 15/06/2015
Population trend: Unknown
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 Kangaroo Island Dunnart is endemic to Kangaroo Island and is the only dunnart found on the island. The Kangaroo Island Dunnart occurs across a broad range of native vegetation types within its distribution which is consistent with observations of the closely related common dunnart, which occurs in a broad range of habitat types on the Australian mainland. Most dunnarts are opportunistic carnivores whose diet consists almost entirely of ground dwelling invertebrates primarily spiders, crickets, beetles, ants, and termites.
Threats
The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is presumed to be threatened by feral cat predation, which may have been exacerbated by the 2019�20 bushfires, due to the landscape becoming more open and accessible for cats. Other key threats include habitat loss and fragmentation associated with land clearance and development, vegetation dieback caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, and the effects of climate change on fire regimes and habitat quality.
Quollity Conservation Hub's Vulnerability Score:
41
To help compare the relative vulnerability of different species, we have developed a scoring system based on biological and ecological characteristics that influence a species' ability to survive and recover from environmental change and natural disasters.
The framework is adapted from assessment methods used by conservation experts following the Black Summer bushfires to help identify species most in need of conservation action, research, and recovery funding.
Each species is assessed using a range of factors, including its conservation status, lifespan, reproductive rate, habitat and dietary requirements, ability to disperse or recover after fire, and the number and severity of threats it faces.
In general, the higher a species' score, the greater its overall vulnerability and risk of decline or extinction.
Like all conservation assessments, this scoring system is limited by the information currently available. Many threatened species remain poorly studied and receive limited research funding, meaning some assessments rely on the best available scientific knowledge or information from closely related species. As new research becomes available, scores may be updated to reflect our improved understanding.