Phascolosorex dorsalis (Peters & Doria, 1876)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Dasyuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 232-348 : 299

18.

Narrow-striped Dasyure

Phascolosorex dorsalis

French: Dasyure & bande dorsale / German: Braunbauch-Streifenbeutelmaus / Spanish: Dasiuro de banda estrecha

Other common names: Narrow-striped Marsupial Shrew

Taxonomy. Phascogale dorsalis Peters & Doria, 1876 , Arfak Mtns, Hatam, Manokwari Div., Vogelkop, Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), New Guinea, Indonesia.

This species (as a species of Phascogale ) was described by W. Peters and G. Doria in 1876, but the genus did not figure prominently in systematic reviews until G. H. H. Tate in 1947. Earlier, Tate and R. Archbold had placed Phascolosorex as a subgenus of Phascogale , but Tate elevated it to a genus within his subfamily Dasyurinae several years later. In 1982 and 1984, M. Archer positioned Phascolosorex , along with Neophascogale , in a unique subfamily, Phascolosoricinae. Early genetic work provided evidence that the phascolosoricines were associated with Dasyurinae , and more recent genetic analysis has supported this association, suggesting that Phascolosorex ( dorsalis ) and Neophascogale ( lorentzii ) are wellsupported sisters. In turn, these two genera have been positioned as sister to a clade containing six species of quolls ( Dasyurus ) and the Tasmanian Devil ( Sarcophilus harrisii ). Current genetic and morphological research indicates that P. dorsalis mostlikely represents a species complex that will eventually be split into P. dorsalis , endemic to the Arfak Mountains (West Papua), and P. brevicaudata from the remaining range (with whartoni recognized as a distinct subspecies). Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.d.dorsalisPeters&Doria,1876—ArfakMtsWNewGuinea.

P.d.brevicaudataRothschild&Dollman,1932—WeylandRangeWNewGuinea.

P. d. whartoni Tate & Archbold, 1936 — New Guinea Central Range and Huon Peninsula.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 16:6-16.8 cm (males) and 11.7-13.4 cm (females), tail 15.3-15.4 cm (males) and 11:6-14.7 cm (females); weight 132-145 g (males); all measurements for western populations. There is sexual dimorphism for size. The Narrow-striped Dasyure differs from species of Myouctis, Dasyurus , Planigale , Antechinus , Neophascogale , and the Short-furred Dasyure ( Murexia longicaudata ) in possessing a single dorsal stripe. The stripe in the Narrow-striped Dasyure is much narrower than that in the Broad-striped Dasyure ( Murexia rothschildi ). Although very similar to the Red-bellied Phascogale (P. doriae ), the Narrow-striped Dasyure can be distinguished by its generally smaller size. Belly of the Narrow-striped Dasyure is usually a rich red. Eastern and western populations are distinct and differ in body size, color, and relative tail length. Individuals in the east are smaller (adult males weigh 43-73 g; adult females weigh 36-54 g) and have only limited silvery-tipped fur on back; those in the west are much larger (adult males 132-145 g), and their dorsal fur is profusely tipped with silver.

Habitat. Mature and disturbed tropical, moist forests. The Narrow-striped Dasyure is distributed across the Central Range of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) from the Arfak Mountains in the west to the Huon Peninsula in the east. It has been recorded at an elevation of 1625 m in the Arfak Mountains and 1500-3600 m in the Central Range.

Food and Feeding. Seventeen Narrow-striped Dasyures were captured on Mount Kaindi and Mount Missim on opposite sides of the Wau Valley in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea. Analysis of their fecal pellets indicated that insects and spiders were predominant prey items, with evidence of vertebrates (frogs and mammals). Of the insect prey, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, bugs, moths, and cockroaches were found in feces. Another study on Mount Kaindi indicated that the Narrow-striped Dasyure also preyed on small lizards.

Breeding. The Narrow-striped Dasyure apparently breeds throughout the year; one study of individuals taken from an eastern population in the district of Wau (Papua New Guinea) reported that pregnant or lactating females were found inJanuary, April, May, August, September, October, and December. One captive male Narrow-striped Dasyure sired young in consecutive years. Female Narrow-striped Dasyures have four nipples in their pouches, and a fold of skin covers mammae. Evidence for a lack of seasonality and ability to breed in more than one year was obtained from two females that produced young at intervals of ¢.9 months. One gave birth to young in the wild in September and again in captivity the following June. The other female gave birth to young in December and again the following September. Both litters of the second female resulted from mating in the laboratory. Mean interval between estrous periods in female Narrow-striped Dasyures was greater in six laboratory-reared and bred females (163 days) than in six wild-caught females (96-5 days). Indeed, one laboratoryreared female did not enter estrus for more than a year (427 days). In this study, four Narrow-striped Dasyures produced young following mating in captivity. No excess or unattached young were ever found following parturition. One female Narrow-striped Dasyure was inspected while in the process of giving birth; one young was seen moving in a drop of fluid on the fur between the cloaca and pouch opening. The mother was immediately returned to her cage and, on the following day, this (or another) young was found in the pouch. Two females had litters of three young, but one was lost within 30 days; the otherlitter was weaned. The other two females each supported a single pouch young. One of the singletons was lost at 15 weeks; the other was weaned at 19 weeks. Measurements of crown—rump length of young were as follows: 8-5-9 mm at 15 days; 9-5 mm at 20 days; 12 mm at 30 days; 14 mm at 35 days, and 15-18-5 mm at 45 days. Eyes of young Narrow-striped Dasyures did not open until they were ¢.95 days old. Duration oflactation in female Narrow-striped Dasyure was 4-4-5 months.

Activity patterns. Evidence from both field and captive studies suggests that the Narrow-striped Dasyure is ground dwelling and active during the day, but little is known aboutits specific activity patterns.

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. The Narrow-striped Dasyure has a wide distribution and presumably a large overall population; it occurs in protected areas and is tolerant (to some degree) of habitat modification. There are no perceived major conservation threats although it suffers predation by feral domestic dogs in some areas. The Narrow-striped Dasyure mostlikely represents a species complex, so additional study is required to determine conservation status of populations that may represent various taxa.

Bibliography. Archer (1982¢c, 1984), Baverstock et al. (1982), Flannery (1995a), Grossek et al. (2010), Helgen (2007a, 2007b), Krajewski et al. (2004), Peters & Doria (1876), Tate (1947), Tate & Archbold (1937), Woolley (2003), Woolley, Leary, Seri, Flannery, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison, James, Aplin et al. (2008), Woolley, Raftopoulos et al. (1991).

Figures

On following pages: 29. Black-tailed Antechinus (Antechinus arktos); 30. Fawn Antechinus (Antechinus bellus); 31. Yellow-footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), 32. Atherton Antechinus (Antechinus godmani); 33. Cinnamon Antechinus (Antechinus leo); 34. Swamp Antechinus (Antechinus minimus); 35. Buff-footed Antechinus (Antechinus mysticus); 36. Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartil); 37. Subtropical Antechinus (Antechinus subtropicus); 38. Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii).

Subspecies and Distribution. P.d.dorsalisPeters&Doria,1876—ArfakMtsWNewGuinea. P.d.brevicaudataRothschild&Dollman,1932—WeylandRangeWNewGuinea. P. d. whartoni Tate & Archbold, 1936 — New Guinea Central Range and Huon Peninsula.