| French: | Rat À Grosse Queue |
|---|---|
| Spanish: | Rata Coligorda |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Muridae |
| Genus | Zyzomys (1) |
| Weight | 70 - 120 g (2) |
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR - A1ce+2ce) on the IUCN Red List 2002 and listed on Appendix I of CITES (1).
Endemic to the southern Northern Territory in Australia, the central rock-rat was first discovered in 1896 (3). Between 1970 and 1995, there were no recorded sightings of the species and it was presumed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1996 in the MacDonnell Ranges (2). Today the species is known from 14 sites within this mountain range, to the west of Alice Springs (2).
Found in the arid habitat of central Australia, this rock-rat is associated with tussock and hummock grasslands as well as open woodlands (2).
The direct threats to this species have not been identified. It is difficult to assess whether the population merely undergoes dramatic fluctuations in response to climate change, or if other factors are also to blame for past population crashes (2). Some potential threats, however, include the loss of habitat through inappropriate fire management, or grazing by feral herbivores such as horses (2). Predation by dingoes may also be a factor that threatens the survival of this species (2).
Authenticated (9/12/02) by Gary Fry, Alice Springs Desert Park.
http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au
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© Mike Gillam / Auscape International
Auscape International
PO Box 1024,
Bowral
NSW
2576
Australia
Tel: (+61) 2 4885 2245
Fax: (+61) 2 4885 2715
auscape@auscape.com.au
http://www.auscape.com.au
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