Microperoryctes papuensis (Laurie, 1952)

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 : 398

17.

Papuan Bandicoot

Microperoryctes papuensis

French: Bandicoot papou / German: Mura-Mausnasenbeutler / Spanish: Bandicut de Papua

Taxonomy. Peroryctes papuensis Laurie, 1952 ,

“ Boneno , Mt. Mura (30 miles NW. Mt. Simpson Main Range, eastern Papua, SE. New Guinea, 4,000-5,000 ft.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Fane village to Mt Simpson, in SE New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 17.5-20.5 cm, tail 14.2-15.8 cm; weight 145-184 g. Males may be slightly larger than females, but sample sizes too small to be certain. This small soft-furred peramelid is gray or brown with a very marked dark stripe running dorsally from head to base oftail, and additional dark stripes on face and rump. Ventral fur is light gray in young animals, but rich orange-buff in adults. Ears and tail are hairless, and terminal one-sixth oftail is white.

Habitat. Both primary and secondary forest, at altitudes of 1200-2650 m. Occasional records indicate that this species also visits gardens in small villages. An adult male and a Juvenile have been dug from burrows on separate occasions, providing a hint that shelter may be sought under ground rather than in surface or subsurface scrapes. It occurs sympatrically with the Striped Bandicoot (M. longicauda ) in some mid-montane forest areas.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species. As it has been described as a “small replica” of the Striped Bandicoot, however, and co-occurs with latter species at somesites,it is likely to be broadly omnivorous.

Breeding. From limited specimen evidence, it appears that this bandicoot breeds throughout year and carries a single young in each litter. Only four nipples are present.

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

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend unknown. Has been recorded from nine localities. Despite being poorly known, this species’ relatively large range—with much of its distribution in rugged, high-altitude forest—its ability to tolerate disturbed habitat, and a lack of obvious threats have all contributed to IUCN’s assessment that it is secure. None of the known localities encompasses protected areas, but the small size ofthis peramelid probably means that it 1s not a focus for hunters.

Bibliography. Aplin & Woolley (1993), Flannery (1995a), George & Maynes (1990), Groves (2005¢), Helgen & Flannery (2004a), Laurie (1952), Menzies (2011), Tate (1948b), Westerman, Kear et al. (2012), Westerman, Springer & Krajewski (2001), Ziegler (1977).

Figures

9. Clara’s Echymipera (Echymupera clara), 10. David’s Echymipera (Echymipera davidi), 11. Menzies’s Echymipera (Echymipera echinista), 12. Common Echymipera (Echymipera kalubu), 13. Long-nosed Echymipera (Echymipera rufescens), 14. Striped Bandicoot (Microperoryctes longicauda), 15. Mouse Bandicoot (Microperoryctes murina), 16. Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot (Microperoryctes aplin), 17. Papuan Bandicoot (Microperoryctes papuensis), 18. Seram Bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum)

Distribution. Fane village to Mt Simpson, in SE New Guinea.