The Small Mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N. T I. Description of Study Site

Abstract

Little Nourlangie Rock (12° 51' S., 132° 47' E.) is an isolated sandstone outlier of the Arnhem Land plateau, approximately 0.8 by 2 km in size and up to > 100 m above the surrounding plain. The climate is monsoonal. The habitat types studied are: closed forest, of either rainforest or evergreen open forest species; rocky crevices adjoining a flat sandy area covered in shrubs; a scree slope with open eucalypt forest; sparsely vegetated rocky slopes. Eighteen species of mammals were seen or trapped; of the resident rock-dwellers, Dasyurus hallucatus, Antechinus bilarni, Zyzomys argurus and Z. woodwardi were numerous enough for quantitative study.