Antechinomys laniger has many common names, including kultarr, Jerboa-marsupial, Jerboa marsupial mouse, wuhl-wuhl, and pitchi-pitchi.
Kultarrs utilize olfactory cues during mate selection. Parents and offspring also communicate vocally. Young use calls to locate their parents when they become separated. Kultarrs have abnormally large eyes and ears that are adapted to their nocturnal and fossorial lifestyle.
Communication Channels: acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Antechinomys laniger is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. It is widespread, and populations are believed to fluctuate with rain levels. The US Fish & Wildlife service, however, listed this species as endangered in 1970. Over-grazing by cattle and sheep as well as predation by feral cats and red foxes are major threats, and localized extinctions have occurred. Changes in fire regime also negatively affect kultarrs. Protection of land and animal control programs have helped conserve this species. However, additional research on food habits, home range, and movement are necessary for more specific management programs.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: no special status
There are no known adverse effects of kultarrs on humans.
There are no known direct benefits of kultarrs on humans. They may affect populations of pest insects they prey upon.
Kultarrs may affect populations of the insects they prey upon.
Kultarrs are insectivorous and feed mostly on spiders, cockroaches, and crickets. Their agility and speed allow them to catch quick and poisonous prey.
Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Kultarrs, Antechinomys laniger, are endemic to Australia. They are found in Northern Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales. Localized extinctions of this species have been detected in New South Wales and South Australia. There are two regional subspecies of kultarrs. Antechinomys laniger laniger is located in the eastern part of the overall species range, and A. l. spenceri in the central and western parts of this range.
Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )
Kultarrs inhabit arid to semi-arid plains. They prefer heavy soils including stoney, sandy, or clay filled soils. During the day, they seek cover in stumps, spinifex tussocks, cracks in the soil, and burrows of other animals. Antechinomys laniger laniger prefers claypans in Acacia woodlands, while A. l. spenceri prefers plains of granite and shrub lands.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest ; scrub forest
Kultarrs are relatively long lived mammals for their size. Lifespan may be impacted by their ability to enter spontaneous torpor. The oldest known Kultarr lived 67 months in the wild, while the oldest in captivity lived 48 months.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 67 (high) months.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 48 (high) months.
Kultarrs are small and mouse-like in appearance. The pelt is grey to sandy brown, and the long tail has brush-like dark hairs on the sides. The dark coloring around the eyes, mid-line, and top of the head varies among individuals. They are primarily nocturnal and, as such, have large round eyes and enlarged ears. They have elongated hind feet with four independent digits.
Kultarrs weigh 20 to 30 g and measure 170 to 200 mm in length. They exhibit sexual dimorphism with males being about 15 mm longer and 10 g heavier than females.
Range mass: 20 to 30 g.
Range length: 170 to 200 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Primary predators of kultarrs include feral cats and red foxes. Their nocturnal lifestyle and agility help them to avoid many predators. During the day, kultarrs stay in the nest to avoid diurnal predators. Juveniles stay safe in the pouch or nest. When juveniles do leave the nest, they attach to their mother's back.
Known Predators:
Little is known about mating systems of Kultarrs. It is suspected that olfactory cues are used in mate selection.
Kultarrs are a polyoestrous mammals, and females may enter oestrus up to 6 times during the breeding season. Oestrus cycles occur from July to January and may be photo-dependent. The long breeding season runs from midwinter to midsummer. Breeding females have a supple pouch, elongated nipples, and long red-brown hairs. Males begin spermatorrheoea in May. Kultarrs have 1 to 8 offspring (average 6). Gestation lasts 12 to 17 days. After birth, the young crawl into the pouch, where they remain for 30 to 48 days. Weening occurs at 80 to 90 days of age in captivity. After the breeding season, the female's pouch regresses into a small fold. Kultarrs reach sexual maturity at 11.5 months of age.
Breeding interval: Kultarrs may breed more than once each breeding season.
Breeding season: Kultarrs breed from midwinter to midsummer.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 8.
Average number of offspring: 6.
Range gestation period: 12 to 17 days.
Range weaning age: 80 to 90 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 11.5 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 11.5 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Female kultarrs feed and protect the offspring in their pouch for 30 to 48 days. After they are weaned, young remain in the nest as the mother forages. When older, they ride on their mother's back as she searches for food.
Parental Investment: female parental care ; pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
The kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) (also called the "jerboa-marsupial" or marsupial jerboa) is a small insectivorous nocturnal marsupial inhabiting the arid interior of Australia. Preferred habitat includes stony deserts, shrubland, woodland, grassland and open plains.[3] The kultarr has a range of adaptations to help cope with Australia's harsh arid environment including torpor similar to hibernation that helps conserve energy.[4] The species has declined across its former range since European settlement due to changes in land management practices and introduced predators.[5][6]
The kultarr is a small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae with unique morphological features. It is nocturnal, hunting a variety of invertebrates including spiders, crickets and cockroaches. During the day it shelters in a burrows in hollow logs, beneath grass tussocks, at the base of shrubs and trees or cracks in the soil.[3][6] Males weigh between 17-30 grams and 80–100 mm in length. Females are slightly smaller between 14–29 grams and 70–95 mm in length. They have a brown or fawn-sandy color, with a white underside.[3][5][6] The kultarr has a long tail with a distinctive dark brush-like tip. The muzzle is sharply pointed and the eyes and ears are particularly large; the eyes have dark rings around them.[5][6] It has distinguishing elongated hind legs having four toes similar to macropodids. The hind legs are designed for a bipedal or hopping style movement,[7] used to evade predators and catch prey such as insects.[6][8] Kultarrs have been recorded moving at speeds of 13.8 km/h in open country.[9]
The kultarr is the sole member of the genus Antechinomys of the family Dasyuridae.[5] Originally collected by Sir Thomas Mitchell in New South Wales, it was subsequently described as Phascogale lanigera by John Gould in 1856.
It was then moved into its own genus, Antechinomys, by Krefft in 1867 and in 1888 the species was formally named Antechinomys laniger.[5][10][11]
In 1906 a second species of Antechinomys was described from specimens collected from an expedition to central Australia, classified as Antechinomys spenceri.[10] Extensive discussion regarding the taxonomy of the genus followed. In 1981 it was proposed that Antechinomys was not distinct enough from Sminthopsis; subsequent isozyme and mitochondrial analysis proved the theory to be incorrect.[10] A. laniger laniger and A. laniger spenceri are now accepted as being subspecies with minor morphological differences, both occurring in different geographic ranges.[5] A. laniger laniger occurs in eastern Australia while A. laniger spenceri is found in western and central Australia.[3][5] Morphological differences include A. laniger spenceri being paler in colour and heavier compared to A. laniger laniger.[3]
The kultarr occurs across a vast area of semi-arid and arid Australia but has since declined from parts of its former range[5] and is now uncommon with populations suffering seasonal fluctuations.[6] The kultarr has disappeared from Victoria and southern New South Wales at the Murray-Darling junction.[3][10] Populations in south-east South Australia, Cedar Bay in north Queensland and western Queensland have also disappeared.[5]
Populations in the Northern Territory and Western Australia appear to be stable.[5] Kultarr populations around Cobar in western New South Wales continue to persist, being regionally important for conservation of the species.[5][10] Recent sightings of kultarrs occurred in 2015 at Nombinnie Nature Reserve in Central Western NSW. These sightings are significant as the species has not been sighted in the area for over 20 years.[12]
The lifespan of kultarrs in the wild is unknown however in captivity they can live up to 5 years.[5][13] The kultarr has distinct geographical variations in breeding seasons. Breeding and the onset of estrus occurs in the second half of the year in eastern populations with western populations occurring slightly later.[10][14] Males are sexually mature at 9–10 months and females at 11–12 months. Female are polyestrous, having the ability to enter estrus multiple times in a breeding season.[5] The kultarr has a crescent shaped pouch consisting of small folds of skin with six to eight teats. The young are carried in the pouch for up to 20 days, after this they hold on to the mother's back whilst she forages or are left in the burrow.[5]
Both subspecies have different numbers of teats with A. laniger laniger having eight and A. laniger spenceri having six. This can be used to differentiate between the two subspecies. Captive breeding and rearing of kultarr is problematic and difficult.[5][15]
Kultarrs migrate between different locations throughout the year, meaning local populations numbers can vary depending on seasonal fluctuations. Populations can decline in response to good rain with kultarrs preferring drier seasons.[5] Movements and home ranges of kultarrs vary with movements of up to 1,700 m per night for males and 400 m per night for females. Kultarrs disperse and negotiate a variety of different habitat types to forage from vegetated areas and open bare ground.[10]
The kultarr is predominantly insectivorous, its diet consisting largely of species including spiders, cockroaches, crickets and beetles. Additionally, kultarrs are also known to prey on other species of dasyurids.[3][13]
The digestive tract of the kultarr has been described,[16] as have the digestibilities of captive feeding regimes,[17] and the rates of passage of different dietary items through their digestive tracts.[18]
The kultarr occupies a range of different habitats preferring sparsely vegetated areas. Habitats include claypans, gibber plains, stony deserts, savannas, hummock (Triodia sp.) and tussock grasslands, woodlands and shrublands.[3][6][10] Regional variation in habitat preference occurs with the western subspecies preferring stony, granite plains dominated by Acacia, Eremophila, and Cassia species. Eastern subspecies prefer sparsely vegetated clay pans in acacia woodlands.[3][6][10]
The kultarr is an Endotherm having a high metabolic rate, to conserve energy the kultarr enters into a state of torpor where the body temperature is reduced similar to hibernation. The body temperature drops to 11 °C reducing the metabolic rate by 30% conserving energy and reducing water loss.[4][19] Torpor occurs in the evening-early morning, lasting between 2–16 hours.[4][19] Species that enter torpor are referred to as heterothermic endotherms.[4] Other species of Dasyriuds in arid Australia use torpor and is an adaptation to combat limited resource availability.[4] The benefits of torpor include having an extended lifetime; this is advantageous in the harsh arid environment enabling recovery of populations after stochastic weather events such as flooding or drought.[4] Torpor is also used during the breeding season to ensure breeding success even during poor seasons.[4]
Changes in land management practices since European settlement has resulted in catastrophic declines of terrestrial fauna species throughout arid Australia.[20][21] Habitat degradation occurs through overgrazing by introduced species such as rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), sheep (Ovis aries), and cattle (Bos taurus). Cattle can trample and destroy vegetation, damaging soil structure and reducing deep cracks that reduces nesting and shelter sites for the kultarr.[5][10]
Kultarrs are threatened by introduced predators such feral cats (Felis catus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Good rainfall results in ecosystem pulses in arid regions, allowing predators to increase their numbers,[22] therefore predation on kultarrs increases.[10] Kultarrs are also predated by native species such as native owls and snakes.[10] However cats differ from native predators as they are recreational hunters and continue to prey on species even when prey numbers are low.[23] Domesticated cats on cattle stations have also been reported as preying on kultarrs.[14][24][25]
Populations of kultarrs experience significant decline due to the impacts of flooding, causing the mortality of individuals through drowning and flooding of burrows.[26] The impact is exacerbated if kultarr populations are isolated, hindering re-colonisation.[20] The destruction of kultarr habitat is also a consequence of severe flooding.[10]
The cessation of indigenous fire-stick farming and the reduction of patch-mosaic burning in arid Australia since European colonisation have caused increased severity of large-scale wildfires.[21][27] Contributing to the decline of suitable habitat and refuges for the kultarr including tree hollows, fallen logs, Triodia spp. hummocks, shrubs and leaf litter.[20][28]
Insecticide control of the Australian plague locust has been attributed to possible fatalities of species of Dasyriuds from secondary poisoning.[29][30] Kultarrs are particularly susceptible because of their high insect diet, high metabolism and small body size.[29][30] Once locusts are affected by insecticide kultarrs are able to capture and gorge-feed on them easily making them susceptible to poisoning.[29][30]
The kultarr is classified as endangered in New South Wales under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995[10] and near threatened in the Northern Territory under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000.[31] In Queensland it is classified as least concern under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.[32] The kultarr is not classified in South Australia, Victoria or Western Australia.[5] The kultarr is not listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999[10] and listed as least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ‘red list’ of threatened species.[5]
A detailed recovery plan has been developed for the kultarr by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service under the ‘saving our species’ program.[5][11][32] Objectives include identifying species distributions and habitat requirements, identifying specific threats to the species, implementing direct management strategies to reduce threats as well as public education to increase the profile of the kultarr. At present there aren't any plans to reintroduce kultarrs into the wild.[5]
Direct management strategies that benefit the species include:
The kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) (also called the "jerboa-marsupial" or marsupial jerboa) is a small insectivorous nocturnal marsupial inhabiting the arid interior of Australia. Preferred habitat includes stony deserts, shrubland, woodland, grassland and open plains. The kultarr has a range of adaptations to help cope with Australia's harsh arid environment including torpor similar to hibernation that helps conserve energy. The species has declined across its former range since European settlement due to changes in land management practices and introduced predators.
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