Northern Bettong

conservation

Conservation: CITES – Appendix I; U. S. ESA and IUCN – Endangered.

Order Diprotodontia

discussion

Discussion: Sharman et al. (1980) believed that tropica is not a distinct species but rather that it barely differs from B. penicillata. However, it differs in several reproductive parameters (Smith, 1998), and is now always treated as a distinct species. Its distribution, habitat parameters and phylogeography are given by Pope et al. (2000).

Order Diprotodontia

distribution

Distribution: E Queensland: Windsor and Carbine Tablelands, Lamb Range, and Paluma.

Order Diprotodontia

activity

Activity patterns. Nocturnal; spends daylight hours alone in a well-camouflaged nest constructed in a shallow depression dug under dense vegetation, close to fallen trees, or in the open. Nests are ovoid, have a single entrance, are composed of grass and other vegetation, and lined with fine plant material. Up to three nests may be used by the same individual, with each rarely used for more than two days in succession. Nests tend to be clustered within a small area (10 ha for males, 5 ha for females) of the home range. Afterfire, these bettongs may use boulderpiles, fallen trees, or hollow logs for shelter. They emerge after sunset to forage widely and relatively evenly through their home range, returning to a nest before dawn.

Potoroidae