Species Bettongia penicillata Gray, 1837

Museums

Regional Maps

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

WA: Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Esperance Plains (ESP), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Mallee (MAL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Warren (WAR), Yalgoo (YAL)

Ecological Descriptors

Crepuscular, nocturnal, omnivore, open forest, open scrub, open woodland, solitary, subtropical, terrestrial, tussock grassland.

Extra Ecological Information

Found in tussock or shrubby understorey, nest builder, diet supplemented by bulbs, tubers, seeds, insects and resin.

 

General References

Christensen, P. 1995. Brush-tailed Bettong Bettongia penicillata. pp. 292-293 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Christensen, P.E.S. 1980. The biology of Bettongia penicillata Gray, 1837, and Macropus eugenii (Desmarest, 1817) in relation to fire. Forests Dept. West. Aust. Bull. No. 91 . ix 90 pp.

Christensen, P.E.S. & Leftwich, T. 1980. Observations on the nest-building behaviour of the brush-tailed rat-kangaroo or woylie (Bettongia penicillata). Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 63: 33-38

Claridge, A.W. & May, T.W. 1994. Mycophagy among Australian mammals. Australian Journal of Ecology 19: 251-275

Delroy, L.B., Earl, J., Radbone, I., Robinson, A.C. & Hewitt, M. 1986. The breeding and re-establishment of the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata, in South Australia. Australian Wildlife Research 13: 387-396

Hinds, L.A. & Smith, M.J. 1992. Evidence from plasma progesterone concentrations for male-induced ovulation in the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 95: 291-302

Mead, R.J., Moulden, D.L. & Twigg, L.E. 1985. Significance of sulfhydryl compounds in the manifestation of fluoroacetate toxicity to the rat, brush-tailed possum, woylie and western grey kangaroo. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 38: 139-149

Merchant, J.C., Libje, J.A. & Smith, M.J. 1994. Lactation and energetics of growth in the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia : Potoroidae) in captivity. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 267-277

Nelson, L.S., Storr, R.F. & Robinson, A.C. 1992. Plan of management for the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata Gray, 1837 (Marsupialia, Potoroidae) in South Australia. South Australia : National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Richardson, K.C. 1989. Radiographic studies on the form and function of the gastrointestinal tract of the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). pp. 205-215 in Grigg, G., Jarman, P. & Hume, I. (eds). Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. Sydney : Australian Mammal Society and Surrey Beatty 835 pp.

Sampson, J.C. 1971. The Biology of Bettongia penicillata Gray, 1837. Unpubl. Ph.D. Thesis. Perth : Univ. West. Aust.

Sinclair, A.R.E., Pech, R.P., Dickman, C.R., Hik, D., Mahon, P. & Newsome, A.E. 1998. Predicting effects of predation on conservation of endangered prey. Conservation Biology 12: 564-575

Smith, M.J. 1989. Release of embryonic diapause in the brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata. pp. 317-321 in Grigg, G., Jarman, P. & Hume, I. (eds). Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. Sydney : Australian Mammal Society and Surrey Beatty 835 pp.

Smith, M.J. 1992. Evidence from the oestrus cycle for male-induced ovulation in Bettongia penicillata (Marsupialia). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 95: 283-289

Smith, M.J. 1994. Male-induced oestrus and ovulation in female brush-tailed bettongs (Bettongia penicillata) suckling a young in the pouch. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 6: 445-449

 

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Brush-tailed Bettong)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
29-Oct-2010		29-Oct-2010	MOVED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)