The color of the fur of southern dibblers is their best camouflage. They are also able to move easily and with speed through dense vegetation and, for these reasons, have few natural predators. Mainland populations are heavily preyed upon by introduced red foxes and feral cats.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Southern dibblers are small, with males averaging 145 mm in length and 60 to 100 g. Male southern dibblers found on the mainland are generally heavier than island individuals. Females are smaller at 140 mm average and 40 to 75 g. They have pointed snouts, long whiskers, and strong jaws with sharp teeth. There are also grooves on the pads of their feet which function in providing good traction. These, along with sharp claws, allow them a good grip on trees and rocks. Parantechinus apicalis has rather coarse fur with a freckled appearance. The fur is brownish grey above and grayish white with yellow underneath. They have hairy tapering tails and distinctive white rings around large eyes.
Range mass: 40 to 100 g.
Range length: 140 to 145 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
In captivity and in the wild Parantechinus apicalis individuals live 2 to 3 years. Interestingly, on Boullanger Island males display semelparity where they die immediately after the breeding season. Extremely high energy demands during the breeding season, elevated levels of free corticosteroids in the blood, and related disease such as ulcers, anemia, and parasite infestation ultimately cause the death of males. Because mainland males survive for multiple breeding seasons, this male die-off could be environmentally determined. One possible explanation is the effect of nesting seabirds including bridled terns and white-faced storm petrels on resources. Seabirds affect nutrients in the soil; post-breeding survival is significantly higher on Whitlock Island which has many seabirds, 18 times more nutrients in the soil and a larger amount of insects.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 1 to 3 years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 2 to 3 years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 2 to 3 years.
Typical lifespan
Status: captivity: 2 to 3 years.
Southern dibblers on Whitlock Island prefer dense vegetation such as dunal scrubland and succulent heath. This may be due to the protection it provides from predators or an increased abundance of insect prey. Interestingly, when released from captivity into the wild they take refuge in seabird burrows. On Boullanger Island there seemed to be no preference of habitat as the entire island is fairly regular and has no trees.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
Although once widespread throughout southwest Australia, today Parantechinus apicalis is only found in small populations on the mainland. Two larger populations have recently been found inhabiting Boullanger and Whitlock Islands in Jurien Bay in Western Australia.
Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )
Southern dibblers do vocalize, but vocalization is usually only heard during mating and plays no role in the attraction of mates. There is no other information on how P. apicalis communicates, perceives its environment, or attracts mates, but related species rely heavily on sight and smell.
Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
In 1902 southern dibblers were thought to be extinct but were rediscovered in 1967. They have been threatened by human development, habitat destruction and burning, and the introduction of foxes and cats. Southern dibblers are presently undergoing extensive conservation efforts including successful translocations of captive-bred individuals to Escape Island. Although this project is fairly new, initial success is high with three generations surviving after the initial relocation.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: endangered
There are no known adverse affects of Parantechinus apicalis on humans.
There are no known positive affects of Parantechinus apicalis on humans. They are a member of a unique fauna and may be of ecotourist interest because of their rarity.
Positive Impacts: ecotourism
On the mainland southern dibblers prey on insects and are often prey to larger mammals. On the islands southern dibblers face little danger of predation but compete with introduced house mice for food.
Parantechinus apicalis is primarily insectivorous, eating whatever insects they can find. Being a generalist in this way may be advantageous due to fluctuating environmental conditions. Specifically P. apicalis has been found to eat grasshoppers (Orthoptera), cockroaches (Blattaria), beetles (Coleoptera), termites (Isoptera), and ants (Hymenoptera). Plant material, such as the berries of Rhagodia baccata, make up around 20% of its diet. Members of this species show no significant differences in their diet during different seasons.
Animal Foods: insects
Plant Foods: fruit; nectar
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Typical behaviors prior to and during mating include sniffing of the cloacal and facial regions and rump by both the male and female. This behavior is common and increases in intensity as the female approaches estrous. Chases and attempted mountings are frequent. The male may chase the female or vice versa. Often the animals vocalize when they are chasing or attempting mountings. Mountings are initiated by the male and there are many attempts that are unsuccessful. Chasing and unsuccessful mountings may occur up to 15 days prior to copulation. Successful mountings involve the male clasping the female in a neck-grip and a single copulation may continue for a few hours.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Paranechinus apicalis will mate throughout March and April. Although females are only able to breed once annually, males may be able to breed in multiple seasons. The gestation period for southern dibblers is long compared to other small dasyurids, 44 to 53 days. Once females give birth they carry up to eight young in a shallow pouch. The young are dependent on the female for 3 to 4 months and usually disperse in September and October, reaching sexual maturity in 10 to 11 months.
Breeding interval: Southern dibblers breed once yearly.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs from March to April.
Average number of offspring: 8.
Range gestation period: 44 to 53 days.
Range time to independence: 3 to 4 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 to 11 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 to 11 months.
Key Reproductive Features: semelparous ; iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Average number of offspring: 8.
The extent of parental investment in southern dibblers involves the female carrying and protecting her young in a shallow pouch. She provides food and protection until the young reach independence and disperse in 3 to 4 months.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
The dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) is an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands. It is a member of the order Dasyuromorphia, and the only member of the genus Parantechinus. The dibbler is a small, nocturnal carnivore with speckled fur that is white around the eyes.
The dibbler is 10–16 cm (3.9–6.3 in) long with a 7.5–12 cm (3.0–4.7 in) tail; it weighs 40–125 g (1.4–4.4 oz). Distinctive features include a white eye-ring, gray-brown fur flecked with white hairs, and a short tapering tail. It has strong jaws and large canine teeth for killing prey, which include small vertebrates such as mice, birds and lizards, as well as insects and other invertebrates. They are semi-arboreal and will also feed on nectar from flowering plants and berries. Dibblers weigh about 40–135 grams (1.4–3.6 oz).The breeding season for the species is March–April, with the female able to give birth and raise up to eight young. The dibbler is a solitary, mostly crepuscular species.
The dibbler is found in southwestern Western Australia, where it is located on Boullanger Island, Whitlock Island and Escape Island (translocated) off Jurien Bay.[2] They are also found on the South Coast in the Fitzgerald River National Park, Peniup Proposed Nature Reserve (where it was re-introduced) and on Gunton Island in the Recherche Archipelago (where it was also re-introduced). They have also recently been released on Dirk Hartog Island as part of the Return to 1616 project run by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. There were attempted releases at the Stirling Range National Park and Waychinicup National Park but it is not thought that they still persist in those locations. A specimen was also captured in Torndirrup National Park south of Albany.
The dibbler's habitat is an unburnt vegetation area with a thick litter layer and sandy soils, typically occupying coastal mallee-heath vegetation communities on the south coast.
The dibbler is the only member of its genus, Parantechinus, which indicates that it is an "antechinus-like (animal)".[3] The specific epithet, apicalis, means "pointed". This genus formerly included the sandstone dibbler, now placed in the genus Pseudantechinus.
The genus Parantechinus contains only the single species, Parantechinus apicalis, the dibbler. It was first described in 1842 by John Edward Gray, who placed it in the genus Phascogale. He identified the specimen as being Australasian in origin. The genus Parantechinus was created for the species in 1947 by George Henry Hamilton Tate. The species was also assigned to the genus Antechinus, before being split to its own genus. There are various arrangements of the genera in this section of family Dasyuridae, many of which are supported by molecular systematics, and their relationship remains unresolved.[4]
The name 'dibbler' is used by government and scientific authorities, and in popular usage, to refer to this species exclusively.[5][6][7][8] In the Dibbler Recovery Plan, Senior DBCA scientist, Dr. Tony Friend notes
Strahan (2003) introduced the common name "southern dibbler" for P. apicalis [Parantechinus apicalis] and "northern dibbler" for the sandstone antechinus" [Pseudantechinus bilarni][4] ... the well-established use of "dibbler" to refer only to P. apicalis is recommended and is followed in this plan."[9]
A number of common names derive from previous systematic arrangements. John Gould gave several names from the Nyoongar/Noongar language; Marn-dern and Wy-a-lung are from northern areas, Dib-bler is from the dialect spoken in the King George Sound region.[10] The practice of restoring traditional names to marsupial species has conserved this common name. Gould referred to the species as the freckled antechinus,[4] and it has also been known as the speckled marsupial mouse.
The online edition of Mammal Species of the World gave the name Southern dibbler in 2009.[11] A species known as the Northern (or sandstone) dibbler, Pseudantechinus bilarni, is found in the Northern Territory. This species has been distinguished by the name Southern dibbler, however this name is given in The Mammals of Australia (2008),[12] the formative guide for Australian mammal nomenclature worldwide.
In the early 19th century, dibblers were widely distributed across Western Australia. By 1884, they were declared extinct, but some were rediscovered at Cheyne Beach on the southern coast of Western Australia in 1967. They are threatened by habitat loss (land clearing, dieback) and predators; they are considered an endangered species. Their predators are mainly feral foxes and feral cats.
Perth Zoo in Western Australia operates a conservation project for the dibbler which is helpful in its survival and breeding, and along with the Department of Environment and Conservation has helped to breed and release more dibblers into the wild.
The dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) is an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands. It is a member of the order Dasyuromorphia, and the only member of the genus Parantechinus. The dibbler is a small, nocturnal carnivore with speckled fur that is white around the eyes.
