Kimberley brush-tailed phascogale
Phascogale tapoatafa kimberleyensis
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Vulnerable
Listed since: 15/08/2017
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Near Threatened
Listed since: 31/12/2012
Population trend: Decreasing
Other names: Brush-tailed Phascogale (Kimberley)
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 Kimberley Brush-tailed Phascogale originally occurred in coastal and near coastal areas in the tropical north and its current status in the Kimberley is unclear as there have been very few recent records despite numerous surveys. As a result, there is little information on the ecology of the Brush-tailed Phascogale in the Kimberley. However, based on vegetation mapping and habitat requirements of other phascogale species, it is likely to require woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus and Corymbia species with old and dead trees that have suitable nesting hollows.
Threats
The Kimberley Brush-tailed Phascogale is mainly threatened by inappropriate fire regimes and feral cats and its distribution in isolated subpopulations may make it more vulnerable to local extirpation from these threats.
Quollity Conservation Hub's Vulnerability Score:
43
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.