Identification of Planigale ingrami and Planigale tenuirostris from mandibles deposited in eastern barn owl (Tyto javanica delicatula) pellets.

Cameron Charley; E Gray; A Baker

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.

Identification of Planigale ingrami and Planigale tenuirostris from mandibles deposited in eastern barn owl (Tyto javanica delicatula) pellets.

Cameron Charley , E Gray , A Baker

Abstract

Distinguishing Planigale ingrami from P. tenuirostris skeletal remains currently requires an intact skull. However, mandibular material is much more commonly encountered, particularly in owl pellets. Here, we show an identification feature for these planigales based solely on mandibles found in eastern barn owl (Tyto javanica delicatula) pellets collected from Toorak, north-western Queensland, Australia. Despite considerable overlap between taxa, our measurements of the angle between the molar row and ascending ramus suggested both planigale species were present. This has implications for mammal species richness estimates made from owl pellets where planigales would otherwise remain identifiable only to genus, and for our understanding of planigale species distributions.

AM25005 Accepted 21 March 2025