Facts About White-footed dunnart
The white-footed dunnart is a small marsupial indigenous to Tasmania and mainland Australia. It inhabits coastal areas, the inner Gippsland region, and Alpine zones up to 400 meters near Narbethong. This diminutive creature measures between 140-200 mm from head to tail, with the body length ranging from 70-110 mm and the tail adding 70-90 mm. It typically weighs between 19-27 grams.
The dunnart thrives in environments that receive 600-1000 mm of annual rainfall and feature over 50% forest and woodland cover, with heath understory or mid-story vegetation. It can also be found in coastal tussock grasslands, sedgelands, and wet heath areas. Each dunnart maintains a territory of around 120 square meters, although male territories can be as vast as 1200 square meters, often overlapping with female territories.
The breeding season for the white-footed dunnart occurs in the summer. Females give birth in September or October, usually to up to ten joeys. Unfortunately, the mother often dies shortly after giving birth. The joeys remain in the pouch for about eight weeks, continue nursing for another month, and then become independent.
In terms of diet, this small marsupial is an opportunistic feeder. It consumes invertebrates and reptiles ranging in size from 1 to 18 mm.