Publications
Benshemesh, J
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Northern Territory, 2004
Both the Kakarratul (Notoryctes caurinus) and the Itjaritjari (N. typhlops) are listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act 1999, and IUCN criteria A1c,2c (Maxwell et al. 1996). However, an accurate assessment of the conservation status of marsupial moles is difficult due to the paucity of information (Maxwell et al. 1996) and taxonomic uncertainties. The Itjaritjari occurs in South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia. In SA, Itjaritjari is listed as Endangered under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 - Schedule 7, but a change to Vulnerable has been proposed (Department of Environment and Heritage 2003). In the NT, Itjaritjari is listed as Vulnerable under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000. In WA both Kakarratul and Itjaritjari occur and both are listed as Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2003. The available evidence does not provide a clear indication of the current status of marsupial moles, and a major thrust of this recovery plan is to obtain information in order to make a more accurate classification in terms of IUCN criteria within 5-10 years.
Very little is known about the habitat requirements of either species of marsupial mole. They are most often recorded in sandy dunes habitats supporting various acacias and other shrubs, and often but not always in association with spinifex. Such habitat is widespread in and typical of the sandy deserts. Marsupial moles may also occur in some sandy plains, and might also occupy sandy river flats, especially in areas where aeolian dunes also occur. Marsupial moles are not capable of travelling far across hard ground and continuity of suitable habitat is also likely to be important for the occurrence of marsupial moles in an area.
It is not known what factors limit marsupial mole populations. Marsupial moles remains occur frequently in the scats of introduced foxes, and to a lesser extent dingos and feral cats, and it is possible that these predators may be having an adverse affect on populations. Other concerns include changed fire regimes, and trampling and habitat changes caused by introduced cattle and burgeoning camel populations. These factors have the potential to greatly modify the vegetation of habitats, and thus the availability of invertebrate prey for marsupial moles. Current predictions of climate change for Australia also provide considerable cause for concern and projected changes in rainfall and temperatures, and concomitant changes in biota, might threaten marsupial moles over their entire range.
This draft recovery plan is now closed for public comment
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