Peroryctes broadbenti (Ramsay, 1879)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Peramelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 362-398 : 393

7.

Giant Bandicoot

Peroryctes broadbenti

French: Bandicoot géant / German: Riesen-Neuguinea-Nasenbeutler / Spanish: Bandicut gigante

Other common names: Broadbent Bandicoot

Taxonomy. Perameles broadbentii Ramsay, 1879 ,

“ considerable distance inland from Port Moresby, in some of the dense mountain scrubs on the banks of Goldie River [a tributary of the Laloki River],” Central Province, Papua New Guinea.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SE peninsula of New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 34-55.8 cm, tail 9.5-22.9 cm; weight 0-94— 4-9 kg. Largest peramelid. Only seven of the 19 adult specimens in world’s museum collections have been weighed, but these indicate extreme sexual dimorphism in size: body weights offive adult males were 2.9-4.9 kg, whereas those of two adult females were 0-94 kg and 1-4 kg. Hindfoot of large specimens may be up to 10 cm, at least 20% longer than that of any other peramelid. Dorsal fur is coarse, dark reddish brown, flecked with black, grading ventrally to a light rufous buff color. Forefeet and hindfeet are pale fawn, ears relatively elongate; tail is scaly and thinly furred above, with flat, scaly tubercles below.

Habitat. Appears to prefer tall, lowland rainforest, with several records obtained from dense vegetation along creeks or rivers; other specimens have been captured on the Sogeri Plateau in the vicinity of hill forest and lower-montane forest types. Altitudinal range is 50-150 m on N side of the peninsula, but may be as much as 500 m or 1000 m on SHacing foothills of Owen Stanley Range.

Food and Feeding. Except for hypertrophy of the premolars in males, the similarity in this species’ dentition to that of other peramelids has led most authorities to assume that it is omnivorous. Only one stomach sample has been examined, and this contained vegetable matter.

Breeding. Females have eight nipples housed in a rearfacing pouch. A single record exists of a female carrying two pouch young. No other reproductive details are known.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Has a decreasing population trend. Although specimens are brought from time to time to markets in city of Port Moresby, there islittle indication that this bandicoot can tolerate much disturbance to its primary-forest habitat. Twenty-three specimens are known from twelve localities to south and north of the Owen Stanley Range, on the south-eastern peninsula of New Guinea. These specimens—most collected more than 50 years ago—suggest that this speciesis naturally scarce at best, but several indicators suggest in addition that it may be in steep decline. It is losing its habitat owing to conversion of lowland forest for small-scale agriculture and broad-scale production of crops such as oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis, Arecaceae ), and it is hunted increasingly as the human population grows and the need for bushmeat rises. This peramelid has not been recorded from any protected areas, despite the fact that several exist within its geographical range. In some regions, such as Central Province, protected areas also are not well managed, and many villagers access them for both game and firewood. Owing to the proximity of markets in Port Moresby, the burgeoning human population, and the increasing value of bushmeat, this situation cannot be expected to improve. Neither game-hunting nor forest disturbance would be beneficial for the Giant Bandicoot, even if it is found to occur in protected areas. The prognosis for this remarkable animal therefore appears grim.

Bibliography. Aplin et al. (2010), Brass (1956), Flannery (1995a), George & Maynes (1990), Groves (2005c), Groves & Flannery (1990), Leary, Wright, Hamilton, Singadan, Menzies, Bonaccorso, Helgen, Seri, Allison, Aplin et al. (2008a), Menzies (2011), Tate (1948b), Tate & Archbold (1937), Van Deusen (1972), Van Deusen & Jones (1967), Ziegler (1977 1982).

Figures

On following pages: 3. Northern Brown Bandicoot (/soodon macrourus); 4. Western Barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville); 5. Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii); 6. Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta), 7. Giant Bandicoot (Peroryctes broadbenti); 8. Raffray’s Bandicoot (Peroryctes raffrayana)

Distribution. SE peninsula of New Guinea.