Mammal craniodental remains in owl pellets provide new tooth row measurements for the threatened Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi).

A Baker; Cameron Charley; D. Lockhart; E Gray

Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Mammal craniodental remains in owl pellets provide new tooth row measurements for the threatened Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi).

A Baker, Cameron Charley , D. Lockhart, E Gray

Abstract

Archer’s 1981 morphological revision of Sminthopsis included only a few individuals of the newly described Sminthopsis douglasi. Here, we used craniodental material sourced from owl pellets collected in north-west Queensland, and additional skeletal material from Queensland Museum specimens, to compile a detailed series of tooth row measurements for S. douglasi (85 specimens, 14 locations). These were compared to existing measurements for co-occurring and geographically proximate congeners. Julia Creek dunnarts displayed distinctive, large tooth row measurements exceeding those of the other dunnart species examined. This research will be useful for those seeking to confidently identify S. douglasi using limited craniodental remains.

AM25004 Accepted 19 February 2025