Distribution

States

Western Australia

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

• Hypsiprymnus ogilbyi Waterhouse, G.R. 1841. The natural history of Marsupialia or pouched animals. In, Jardine, W. (ed.). The Naturalist's Library. Mammalia. Edinburgh & London : W.H. Lizars & H.G. Bohn Vol. 11 xvi 323 pp. [Date published Aug. 1841] [numbered Vol. 30 in The Naturalist's Library in order of issue] [185] [ex Gould ms].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1841.1144 ♀ immature skin & skull, York, Swan River, WA.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

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.

History of changes

• Bettongia penicillata Gray, J.E. 1837. Description of some new or little known Mammalia, principally in the British Museum Collection. Magazine of Natural History ns 1: 577-587 [Date published Nov. 1837: publication date established from Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls [3 Nov. 1888]] [584].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 50.11.22.47 adult ♂ skin & skull (ex Zool. Soc.), NSW.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Now extinct

Australian Endemic.

Ecological Descriptors

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

History of changes

• Bettongia gouldii Gray, J.E. 1843. List of the Specimens of Mammalia in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xxviii 216 pp. [publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84] [94] [nom. nud.].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s).
• Bettongia gouldii Waterhouse, G.R. 1845. A Natural History of the Mammalia. Vol. 1, containing the Order Marsupiata or pouched animals. London : Baillière 553 pp. 20 pls. [publication date established from plates in this work; these are all dated 1845 for the Macropodidae] [219] [this work was published in parts over 1845 and 1846; as the macropodoid sections were published first, the date is 1845 and the plate is dated 1845].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 42.6.29.10 juv. skin, in scrub, 40 miles N of Adelaide, Gulf St Vincent, SA.
• Bettongia penicillata francisca Finalyson, H.H. 1957. Preliminary description of two new forms of Bettongia (Marsupialia). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 12 10: 552-554 [552].

  Type data:

   Holotype SAMA M5484 partial skull without mandible (Aitken, P.F. 1976. Vertebrate type-specimens in the South Australian Museum. V. Mammals. Rec. S. Aust. Mus. 17: 197–202 states that according the SAMA mammal register specimen M5484 has no locality or collection data, was found untagged in an old collection and registered in 1945, was the only original specimen and that how Finlayson knew the specimen came from St Francis Island was unknown), St Francis Is., Nuyt's Archipelago, SA (known only from a single 'pickup' skull).

  Type locality references:

  Aitken, P.F. 1976. Vertebrate type-specimens in the South Australian Museum. V. Mammals. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 17: 197-202 (states that according the SAMA mammal register specimen M5484 has no locality or collection data, was found untagged in an old collection and registered in 1945, was the only original specimen and that how Finlayson knew the specimen came from St Francis Island was unknown).

Ecological Descriptors

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

History of changes