Northern Bettong
Bettongia tropica
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: 16/12/2016
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Endangered
Listed since: 31/12/2012
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 Northern Bettong is a small potoroid which is endemic to north-eastern Queensland. They have very short fore-limbs which are held close to the body with long nails used for digging. The species is solitary and nocturnal and sleep with well-concealed nest sites during the day. They are heavily dependent on truffles as a food source during the wet season, and underground tubers of cockatoo grass in the dry season.
Threats
The Northern Bettong's restricted geographical range and small, isolated populations make them extremely susceptible to extinction events, inbreeding or predation. Climate change is a real threat due to the availability of truffles being strongly associated with rainfall and are extremely vulnerable to drought. The habitat they live in requires fire to maintain food resources, and a lack of fire changes the vegetation structure which will not support the Northern Bettong's specialised diet.
Quollity Conservation Hub's Vulnerability Score:
47
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.