The narrow-nosed planigale (Planigale tenuirostris ) is a species of very small marsupial carnivore of the family Dasyuridae.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Altricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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starts withPlanigales are small rodent-like marsupials no greater than 7.5 cm, and weighing less than 10 g. The narrow-nosed planigale differs from other planigales in its more rufous colouring and smaller size – only the long-tailed planigale is smaller. It is an active hunter of various invertebrates, and is known as a fearless and pugnacious predator. Its flattened head is used as a wedge to prize apart grass stems and turn over leaves in the leaf litter. It will often attack prey larger than itself.
The narrow-nosed Planigale prefers an open less densely vegetated area (Read, 1987). They can often be found in tussock grassland and low shrubland with cracking clay soils so as to inhabit the soil cavities. (Moss, 1988) Plant height has also been recorded as positively associated with an abundance of P. tenuirostrist.
The narrow-nosed planigale is found in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory in a wide range of inland habitats. It prefers areas with cracked clay soil.
Unlike other Planigale species, the narrow-nosed Planigale is nocturnal in both summer and winter (Read, 1989) spending only minimal bursts of activity. Research has recorded past short-term activity cycles as 1 hr 25 min in summer and 2 hr 56 min in winter (Read, 1989) Narrow-nosed Planigale surface from the cracks to hunt during the night or stay within these cracks clinging to the vertical sides.
The narrow-nosed Planigale are generalist insectivores, able to thrive and with a diet that reflects the available prey of their environment. Their diet mostly consists of arthropods including beetles, centipedes and spiders, but can also include reptiles such as small lizards.
Population densities tend to fluctuate from year to year, however, despite some declines in distribution, this species appears stable.
There appear to be no major or widespread threats to the narrow-nosed Planigale species. Localised threats and population declines occur in the form of habitat conversion or destruction, particularly for agricultural use.
