Carpentarian Rock-Rat (Zyzomys palatalis)

Collaborative Partners

Territory Wildlife Park
Dr. Anne Walters
Biodiversity & Conservation Unit

Status

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 2006: Endangered

Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act- N.T. 2006: Critically endangered The wild population size is estimated to be less than 2000 animals. The major threat to existing populations has been found to be to be hot late dry season fires (Puckey et al 2004).

Description

The Carpentarian Rock-rat is one of five species of conilurine rodents of the genus Zyzomys. The Carpentarian Rock-rat is a small compact rodent averaging 120 grams with a pronounced roman nose, round ears and protruding eyes (Puckey et al , 2001). The fur is grey brown above and white or pale below (Cole & Woinarski, 2002). The fragile tail is carrot shaped enabling fat deposits to be stored and like all rock-rat species, often lose fur skin and parts of the tail with minimal levels of trauma (Puckey et al 2001).

Distribution / Habitat

The Carpentarian Rock-rat is extremely limited in its range and is currently known from only five localities; Banyan Gorge, Moonlight Gorge, McDermott’s Spring, Camel Creek Gorge and Redbank Springs all occurring within a 37 km radius within the Wollogorang pastoral lease in the gulf area of the N.T., close to the QLD border. The habitat crucial to the Carpentarian Rock-rat are rugged sandstone gorges with scree and rock slopes covered with dry monsoon vine thicket, woodland (Trainor et al ,
2000) and permanent water (Puckey et al , 2004). Extensive field studies have failed to find any further populations in similar habitats.

Recovery Criteria

To down list the species to Vulnerable or Conservation Dependent within 10 years of the revised Recovery Plan implementation.

Primary Recovery Plan Objectives

• Develop and implement appropriate management strategies to maintain known populations
• Continue research into ecology and population demography to fill current information gaps
• Continue to adapt established PVA models as new information becomes available
• Maintain a viable captive breeding population
• Investigate aspects of breeding biology using captive animals
• Experimentally release captive bred individuals into poetically suitable areas
• currently not occupied
• Raise the profile of Carpentarian Rock-rat in the community

Park Component

TWP has maintained a viable breeding group as a safeguard against catastrophic decline and continues to assist with the collection of important information on biology (J. Gogler pers. comm, 2007).

Progress to Date

In July 2002 a captive management plan was drafted and management strategies implemented to ensure sound captive management. Captive breeding has been successful breeding protocols have been determined.

Two releases have been carried out to date and future plans include further investigation into mapping oestrus cycles of the captive group, and other aspect of breeding biology, while wild populations are re-surveyed to acertain the direction of ongoing management of the species.

Studbook Keeper: Jodie Gogler
A studbook has been compiled & is used to ensure the sound genetic management of the captive population. A Husbandry Manual is currently being written to standardise captive husbandry.