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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(1)

The behaviour of an arid zone dasyurid, the kultarr (Antechinomys laniger), in captivity

Hayley J. Stannard https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6657-5435 A * , Lisa M. Goodchild A and Julie M. Old B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.

B School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW, Australia.

* Correspondence to: hstannard@csu.edu.au

Handling Editor: Bronwyn McAllan

Australian Mammalogy 47, AM24024 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM24024
Submitted: 26 July 2024  Accepted: 18 December 2024  Published: 10 January 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

Understanding behaviour of threatened animal species is an important component of conservation. This study assessed video and recorded data collected on a historical captive population of kultarrs (Antechinomys laniger) to describe their behaviour in captivity. The kultarr, a small marsupial in the Dasyuridae family, is native to central Australia. It is categorised as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species with its population assessed as decreasing. Here, we describe some key behaviours displayed by kultarrs in captivity, including grooming, nest building and use of shelter, predatory and feeding behaviour, and social behaviour. Gaining an understanding of kultarr behaviour in captivity will enhance and improve captive management of the species and provide insights into how kultarrs may behave in the wild.

Keywords: Dasyuridae, ethogram, ethology, feeding, grooming, marsupial, nest building, social behaviour.

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