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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 8.8 years (captivity) Observations: These animals have been estimated to live up to 10 years (Fisher et al. 2001), which has not been confirmed. One captive specimen lived 8.8 years (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Kate Teeter, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Even though Thylogale billardierii is currently very abundant and widespread in Tasmania. The species is harvested each year to ensure that the numbers remain controlled and abundant.(PBS)

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Thylogale billardierii avidly eat brush and foilage, sometimes competing with the livestock of Tasmanian farmers. This has been controlled recently by the installation of electric fences. (Statham 1994)

Negative Impacts: crop pest

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Thylogale billardierii has a soft, fine fur that is valuable to humans. The meat of Thylogale billardierii has little fat, and is palatable to humans. Thylogale billardierii only inhabit Tasmania, this fact has added increased interest in tourism. (Stranham)

Positive Impacts: food ; ecotourism

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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Thylogale billardierii mainly eat short green grasses and herbs, and they occasionally eat taller woody plants. Thylogale billardierii are nocturnal and feed at night close to the protection of the forest. (PBS)

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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Red-bellied Pademelons, Thylogale billardierii, are native to Australia and Tasmania, but now are only found on Tasmania. Red-bellied Pademelons were once widespread and abundant on the mainland of Australia, but they have been extinct on the mainland since the early 1900s. Red-bellied Pademelons are still abundant on Tasmania and the larger islands of Bass Strait.

Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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Thylogale billardierii inhabit areas of dense vegetation, rainforest and wet forest. Thylogale billardierii will also inhabit wet gullies in dry open eucalyptus field. However, when in a clear area, they usually stay within 100 meters of forest shelter. (PBS)

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Life Expectancy

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The lifespan of Thylogale billardierri is around 5-6 years in the wild. There is unsufficient data for the lifespan in captivity. (PBS)

Typical lifespan
Status: wild:
5 to 6 years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
5-6 years.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
8.8 years.

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Morphology

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Thylogale billardierii are short stocky marsupials. Adult males weigh about 7 kg, females only about 4 kg. Pademelons have a short tail and compact body that are useful for maneuvering through dense vegetation. Thylogale billardierii have soft fine fur that is dark brown to grey brown on the dorsal side (back) of the animal, and reddish brown or lighter brown on the ventral side (stomach). The males of Thylogale billardierii have a broad chest and forearms, which are factors that contribute to males being larger than females.(Parks and Wildlife Services of Tasmania)

Range mass: 2.5 to 12 kg.

Range length: 1 to 1.5 m.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Kate Teeter, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Associations

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Known Predators:

  • Tasmanian wolves (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
  • Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)
  • spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus)
  • wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax)
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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Thylogale billaridierii are polygynandrous. Occasional clicking can be heard in males chasing after females in oestrus. Immediately after birth, the female again comes into oestrus, but the blastocyst remains in embryonic diapause.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Like other macropodids, baby Thylogale billardierii nurse in the mothers pouch after a short gestation period. In Thylogale billardierii, pouch life is six and a half months, and the young are weaned from the mothers teat around seven or eight months. Thylogale billardierii are usually sexually mature around fourteen or fifteen months. Thylogale billardierri are solitary animals that come together for mating, and will occasionally share a feeding ground.

Thylogale billardierii reproduce in captivity year round, but in the wild 70% of births are in late autumn. The gestation period is 30 days. The young makes its way into the pouch immediately after birth, and attaches itself to one of four teats. If there are other siblings, the newly born joey will choose a teat not used by a sibling.

Immediately after birth, the mother again comes into oestrus and mates. The resulting embryo develops into the blastocyst stage, and then remains in embryonic diapause. If the current joey is lost or removed, the blastocyst is developed and born 27-28 days later. If the current joey develops naturally, it will be replaced on the night he leaves the pouch by a new young resulting from the activated blastocyst(Rose et al. 1999).

Breeding season: autumn

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average gestation period: 30 days.

Range weaning age: 6 to 12 months.

Average weaning age: 8 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 14 to 15 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 14 to 15 months.

Key Reproductive Features: year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous ; delayed implantation

Average birth mass: 0.42 g.

Average gestation period: 29 days.

Average number of offspring: 1.

The young of Thylogale billardierii are exclusively cared for by the mother, until they are weaned at around 7 months. (Rose et al 1999)

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

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Davis, A. 2002. "Thylogale billardierii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Thylogale_billardierii.html
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Adrienne Davis, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Tasmanian pademelon

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The Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), also known as the rufous-bellied pademelon or red-bellied pademelon, is the sole species of pademelon found in Tasmania, and was formerly found throughout southeastern Australia. This pademelon has developed heavier and bushier fur than its northern relatives, which inhabit northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The scientific name honours J.J.H. Labillardier, who collected the first specimen on an expedition to what was then Van Diemen's Land in 1792.[3] There are no recognised subspecies.

Description

The Tasmanian pademelon has a compact body with short, rounded, ears, thick fur over the limbs, head, and body and a tail covered with short hairs. It has greyish fur over most of the body with yellowish to rufous underparts, and, unlike most other pademelons, has no distinct facial or hip markings.[3] Males reach around 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) in weight, 70–120 centimetres (28–47 in) in length including the 30–45 centimetres (12–18 in) tail, and are considerably larger than the females, which average 4.6 kilograms (10 lb).[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

Female and her joey.
Skull of a Tasmanian pademelon

Pademelons are abundant and widespread across mainland Tasmania,[6] and are also found on the nearby King and Furneaux Islands. They were extirpated from the Australian mainland during the 19th century.[3] Rainforest, sclerophyll forest, and scrubland[7] are preferred, although wet gullies in dry open eucalyptus forest are also used. Such places, next to open areas where feeding can occur, are especially favoured.

Diet and ecology

The Tasmanian pademelon is a herbivore feeding on a wide variety of plants, from herbs, green shoots and grass, to some nectar-bearing flowers.[7]

Once a part of the diet of the thylacine, the Tasmanian pademelon is still preyed upon by other predators of the island, including Tasmanian devils, quolls, and eagles,[3] as well as dogs and feral cats.[8] Even so, they are abundant to the point of being culled occasionally (along with other wallabies) to reduce competition for grass with the farmed animals. Hunting of the Tasmanian pademelon is allowed, its pelt having some economic value and its meat being palatable.[9]

Behaviour

Pademelons are solitary and nocturnal, spending the daylight hours in thick vegetation. After dusk, the animals move onto open areas to feed,[3] but rarely stray more than 100 metres from the forest edge. Adults have been recorded to make growling sounds during aggressive interactions, and clucking noises at other times, such as when mothers are calling to their young or males are pursuing females. They have also been reported to engage in grass-pulling behaviour, possibly as a visual signal to other members of the species. This involves standing upright, pulling up clumps of grass and throwing them against their chest.[10] Males engage in ritualised bouts of combat to determine dominance; these are similar to those of other macropodids, including the "boxing" behaviour seen in kangaroos.[3] Both sexes groom themselves by scratching their head and shoulders with their hind feet for up to ten minutes at a time, and mothers also groom their young for a brief time after they first emerge from the pouch.[10]

Reproduction

There is no specific breeding season, but most pademelon births seem to occur in the autumn. Males regularly sniff the females in their range, and pursue them if they are receptive, which they remain only for around 24 hours at a time.[11] Copulation can be lengthy, consisting of several bouts, with the animals resting for up to 15 minutes between each session.[3]

Gestation lasts 30 days. The young measure around 16 millimetres (0.63 in) in total length at birth, and rapidly move to the pouch, where they attach to one of the four teats. They grow relatively slowly compared with other marsupials of their size, opening their eyes between weeks 18 and 20, and first developing fur between weeks 20 and 22. They are fully furred by around 160 days, at which point they first begin to poke their head out of the pouch. The first full emergence from the pouch can occur from this time up until around 190 days of age, although they continue to suckle for another three months, after which the mother becomes aggressive towards them.[12] The mother often gives birth to a second joey while still nursing an older one that has already left the pouch, and typically gives birth to 1.3 young per year.[3]

Joeys are sexually mature at 17 months for males or 13 months for females.[5] Lifespan in the wild is unknown,[3] but has been estimated to be between 5 and 6 years.[13]

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). "Order Diprotodontia". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Menkhorst, P.; Denny, M. (2016). "Thylogale billardierii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T40571A21958627. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40571A21958627.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rose, R.W.; Rose, R.K. (25 September 2018). "Thylogale billardierii (Diprotodontia: Macropodidae)". Mammalian Species. 50 (965): 100–108. doi:10.1093/mspecies/sey012.
  4. ^ Davis, Adrienne. "Thylogale billardierii (Tasmanian pademelon)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  5. ^ a b Driessen, Michael M. (September 1992). Effects of hunting and rainfall on Bennett's wallaby and Tasmanian pademelon populations (PDF) (M.Sc. thesis). University of Tasmania. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  6. ^ Rounsevell, D.E.; Taylor, R.J.; Hocking, G.J. (1991). "Distribution records of native terrestrial mammals in Tasmania". Wildlife Research. 18 (6): 699–717. doi:10.1071/WR9910699.
  7. ^ a b Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-19-550870-3.
  8. ^ Fancourt, B.A. (February 2015). "Making a killing: photographic evidence of predation of a Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) by a feral cat (Felis catus)". Australian Mammalogy. 37 (1): 120–124. doi:10.1071/AM14044.
  9. ^ "Tasmanian Pademelon - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio". Animalia. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b Clancy, T.F. (December 1982). Aspects of the behaviour of the red-bellied pademelon Thylogale billardierii (Desmarest 1822) in captivity (PDF) (B.Sc. thesis). University of Tasmania. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  11. ^ Rose, R.W.; McCatney, D.J. (1982). "Reproduction of the red-bellied pademelon Thylogale billardierii (Marsupialia)". Australian Wildlife Research. 9 (1): 27–32. doi:10.1071/WR9820027.
  12. ^ Rose, R.W.; McCatney, D.J. (1982). "Reproduction of the red-bellied pademelon Thylogale billardierii, and age estimation of pouch young". Australian Wildlife Research. 9 (1): 33–38. doi:10.1071/WR9820033.
  13. ^ AustralianFauna.com Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine article on the Tasmanian pademelon

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Tasmanian pademelon: Brief Summary

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The Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), also known as the rufous-bellied pademelon or red-bellied pademelon, is the sole species of pademelon found in Tasmania, and was formerly found throughout southeastern Australia. This pademelon has developed heavier and bushier fur than its northern relatives, which inhabit northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The scientific name honours J.J.H. Labillardier, who collected the first specimen on an expedition to what was then Van Diemen's Land in 1792. There are no recognised subspecies.

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