A modern record of the New Holland Mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae (Waterhouse, 1843) (Muridae: Rodentia) on the western slopes of New South Wales, Australia Michael J. Murphy NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (now part of the Department of Environment and Conservation) Northern Threatened Species Unit. Locked Bag 914 Coffs Harbour New South Wales 2450 Australia Email: [email protected] T The modern known distribution of the New Holland Mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae (Waterhouse, 1843) (Muridae: Rodentia) in coastal and near-coastal southeastern Australia excludes historical and C subfossil records on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. A recent record from the A Torrington area, in the western part of the New South Wales New England Tablelands bioregion, is R documented. The specimen record comprised an intact fresh skull and was distinguished from other T rodent species on the basis of dental and cranial characters. This record is significant as one of the first modern records of P. novaehollandiae from the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, S lending credence to historical western records and suggesting that the current assessment of the B species as secure in New South Wales with minimal reduction in range since European settlement A should be reconsidered. Key words: New Holland Mouse, Pseudomys novaehollandiae, Australian native rodent, New South Wales western slopes, ra nge extension, conservation status. Introduction Rodents comprise approximately one fifth of Australia’s conilurine rodent native to NSW that is not currently listed native mammal fauna and occupy a wide range of as threatened or presumed extinct in NSW under the TSC environments from arid deserts and alpine boulder Act is the New Holland Mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae. fields to rainforest treetops and aquatic habitats (Watts Pseudomys novaehollandiae is one of the species to have and Aslin 1981; Strahan 1995; Menkhorst and Knight returned from presumed extinction (Watts and Aslin 2001). A few species, such as the Long-haired Rat Rattus 1981). A single live animal opportunistically collected by villosisimus and Grassland Melomys Melomys burtoni, can hand in December 1967 in Kur-ring-gai Chase National sometimes be an obvious component of the local mammal Park near Sydney, by NSW National Parks and Wildlife fauna (McDougall 1944; Carstairs 1976). Most Australian Service officer Geoff Spencer, proved to be the first native rodents, however, are seldom detected in the wild record of the species since 1886 (Mahoney and Marlow except by specialised and intensive field survey methods 1968). Two months later the species was found to be such as the use of Elliott-type traps or analysis of hair locally abundant at a site at Port Stephens on the NSW from predator scats or hair sampling tubes (e.g. Triggs et al. lower north coast (Keith and Calaby 1968). Pseudomys 1984; Norton 1987; Lunney et al. 1990; Barker et al. 1994; novaehollandiae was subsequently found to occur in Wilson and Roede 1995; Meek and Triggs 1997; Murphy scattered coastal and near-coastal localities from south- 1998). Nevertheless, valuable observations concerning east Queensland to Victoria and north-east Tasmania these species can occasionally be made opportunistically. (Seebeck and Beste 1970; Posamentier and Recher 1974; Hocking 1980; Van Dyck and Lawrie 1997). In New South Wales (NSW), native rodents constitute the mammal group of greatest conservation concern (Dickman Habitat assessments and ecological studies have indicated et al. 2000). Of 28 species present in NSW at the time that the habitat of P. novaehollandiae is dry heathland or of European settlement, 10 species are presumed extinct eucalypt forest/woodland with a well-developed heathy in that state and 10 have declined and are considered leguminous understorey, typically on sandy soils, with threatened, using the categories and current listings under populations reaching highest densities in areas which the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC are in early to mid stages of regeneration following Act). Declines and extinctions in NSW have been greatest disturbance such as fire (Posamentier and Recher 1974; among conilurine rodents, with 19 out of 20 species (95%) Wilson 1991). In these areas P. novaehollandiae establishes affected. In contrast, none of the other ‘old endemic’ species burrows for daytime refuge and feeds at night, primarily (1 species of Hydromys and 2 species of Melomys) and on seeds (particularly legumes) as well as leaves, flowers, only 1 out of 5 (20%) of the ‘new endemic’ Rattus species roots, mosses, fungi and insects (Watts and Aslin 1981; are currently considered threatened in NSW. The one Kemper 1995; Seebeck et al. 1996). Australian 188 Zoologist volume 33 (2) December 2005 Dec05.indd 188 14/02/2006, 10:09 PM A modern record of the New Holland Mouse Until recently, the modern known distribution of P. (Fig. 1) was identified as that of a Pseudomys species on novaehollandiae excluded historical records west of the the basis of size and the absence of the notch in the upper Great Dividing Range (Kemper 1977; Watts and Aslin incisors diagnostic of the House Mouse Mus musculus 1981; Menkhorst and Knight 2001). The species was (Watts and Aslin 1981). The specimen was lodged in originally described from specimens collected near Scone the Australian Museum (AM specimen M33380), where in the upper Hunter Valley, NSW (Waterhouse 1843). closer examination identified it as P. novaehollandiae Gould (1863) described the species as occurring on plains (S. Ingleby Aust. Museum pers. comm. 1997). The and stony ridges on both sides of the Great Dividing specimen was re-examined in 2004 and identification as Range in northern NSW. Fossil and subfossil records are P. novaehollandiae confirmed (F. Ford CSIRO pers. comm. also known from several localities on the western slopes of 2004). Ford (pers. comm. 2004) provided the following central and southern NSW, including near Orange, Yass comments on identification: and Yarrangobilly (Kemper 1977). The slopes and plains The skull possesses dental and cranial characters of NSW west of the ranges have undergone extensive typical of P. novaehollandiae, such as bulbous land clearing and modification since European settlement anteriolabial cusps on the M1, and broad zygomatic to become a major pastoral and agricultural region, plate. The bullae are significantly smaller than coinciding with a significant reduction in the regional those of Pseudomys patrius, and the M1 lacks diversity of native vertebrate fauna species (Barrett et an accessory cusp typical of both P. patrius and al. 1994; Paull and Date 1999). Watts and Aslin (1981) Pseudomys delicatulus. The molar row, particularly suggested that P. novaehollandiae may have been among the M1, is less elongate than both those species. the suite of native species lost from the western slopes. The skull is larger than those of P. delicatulus, and This paper reports on a fortuitous recent record of P. is almost identical to an Australian Museum P. novaehollandiae from the western part of the New England novaehollandiae voucher from the Apsley Falls area. Tablelands bioregion, on the upper western slopes of the Great Pseudomys pilligaensis is morphologically analogous Dividing Range in northern NSW. This record is significant to P. delicatulus, and is almost certainly a junior as one of the first modern records from the western, inland synonym of that species on the basis of genetic portion of the species’ historical distribution. and morphological characters, and the Torrington specimen is clearly not that “species”. Collection and Locality details The collection site (151o 36’ E, 29o 20’ S) (Fig. 2) was A single mouse-size rodent skull was noted and collected located on a low rocky ridge north of the Beardy River, from the surface of an ant nest in dry open forest in the just outside the southern boundary of Torrington State Torrington area north-west of Glen Innes during the Recreation Area and approximately 12 km north of the course of a herpetofauna survey in March 1997. The skull village of Emmaville. The Beardy River is within the Figure 1: Skull of New Holland Mouse (Australian Museum specimen M33380) collected near Torrington in 1997. This opportunistically collected specimen lends credence to statements by John Gould and John Gilbert that the distribution of the New Holland Mouse in the 19th Century extended to the western slopes, and suggests that the current assessment of the species as secure in NSW with minimal reduction in range since European settlement should be reconsidered. Photograph courtesy of Fred Ford. Australian December 2005 Zoologist volume 33 (2) 189 Dec05.indd 189 14/02/2006, 10:09 PM Murphy Figure 2: Modern records of the New Holland Mouse in northern New South Wales. The record in the Torrington area is significant as the only one west of the Great Dividing Range watershed. Source: DEC Atlas of NSW Wildlife database. Bioregional boundaries follow Thackway and Creswell (1995). McIntyre River catchment area in the north-east part of The vegetation at the site was dry low open eucalypt forest the Murray-Darling basin. The site was at an elevation of dominated by Eucalyptus dealbata and an unidentified 820 m AHD, with a 10 o slope and westerly aspect, and Stringybark Eucalyptus sp. Eucalyptus melliodora, Eucalyptus was approximately 170 km from the coast on the upper prava, Callitris endlicheri and Angophora floribunda were western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. also present. Tree height was between 12 and 20 m and Australian 190 Zoologist volume 33 (2) December 2005 Dec05.indd 190 14/02/2006, 10:09 PM A modern record of the New Holland Mouse tree DBH (diameter at breast height) was between 10 (pers. comm. 2004) confirmed the identification of the and 30 cm. Canopy cover was approximately 55%. A Goobang specimens as P. novaehollandiae. Specimens were well-defined shrub layer dominated by Olearia elliptica captured in Elliott-type traps in open forest with a closed was present. Other shrubs present included Cassinia heath understorey at a number of different sites in the quienquefaria, Melichrus urseleolatus, Acacia nerrifolia and park in March/April 1997 (W. Faulkner NSW DEC pers. Acacia cheelii. The ground cover comprised tussock grasses comm. 2002). and herbs (about 45% of ground surface), scattered rocks Comparison of the Torrington P. novaehollandiae site and fallen timber (40%) and leaf litter (15%). The with modern coastal and near coastal habitats of the substratum was a sandy soil derived from granite of the species indicates broad similarities. In common with Mole Granite formation. the descriptions of preferred coastal habitat (Keith and Calaby 1968; Posamentier and Recher 1974; Wilson Discussion 1991; Kemper 1995), the Torrington site had a sandy soil substratum supporting a well-developed shrub or heathy The occurrence of Pseudomys novaehollandiae on the upper layer under an open forest overstorey. Leguminous flora western slopes of the Great Dividing Range reported here species recorded at the Torrington site include Acacia indicates a western extension of the species’ known modern nerrifolia and A. cheelii. A diverse range of leguminous range. Menkhorst and Knight (2001) described the species flora species has been recorded in the nearby Torrington as occurring up to 100 km inland and at elevations up to State Recreation Area. The description of the Goobang 600 m AHD in northeast NSW and southeast Queensland. P. novaehollandiae sites as open forest with a heath The present record extends this by another 70 km inland understorey is similarly consistent with descriptions of and 220 m elevation. Other modern records of the species coastal habitats for the species. in the New England Tablelands bioregion (Fig. 2), whilst relatively close, are all located along the eastern escarpment Lee (1995) assessed the national conservation status of within coastal river catchments. The last record of P. P. novaehollandiae as secure, with a national decline in novaehollandiae on the western side of the Great Divide in distribution estimated as less than 10%. Nevertheless, the northern NSW was by John Gould’s collector John Gilbert, species is considered to be of conservation concern in both who recorded it as abundant near the Gwydir River in the Victoria and Tasmania. It is currently listed as endangered 1840s (Gould 1863). in the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, on the basis of rarity and demonstrable decline (Seebeck et Troughton (1957), conjectured that the absence of modern al. 1996), and as endangered in the Tasmanian Threatened records of P. novaehollandiae might be due to confusion with Species Protection Act 1995, on the basis of rarity and the introduced Mus musculus, urged readers east or west unprotected habitat (DPIWE 2004). The status of the of the Great Dividing Range to forward specimens to the species in NSW was regarded by Dickman et al. (2000) Australian Museum. Following the subsequent rediscovery as secure. However, the confirmation of the species’ of the species in coastal areas, Mahoney and Marlow (1968) voiced doubt over the accuracy of Gilbert’s western historical and modern occurrence on the western slopes records, noting that no P. novaehollandiae specimens from the of NSW indicates that its conservation status in NSW Gwydir River area could be found in Museum collections should perhaps be reconsidered. and further noting early confusion and misidentification The western slopes bioregions of NSW are among the between P. novaehollandiae and other species such as the most extensively modified areas in Australia. In the Sandy Inland Mouse Pseudomys hermannsburgensis and New England Tablelands bioregion, 74% of the original Gould’s Mouse Pseudomys gouldi. Posamentier and Recher vegetation has been cleared since European settlement, (1974) made no mention of historical western records in 45% of the bioregion is devoted to intensive agricultural describing the status and distribution of P. novaehollandiae. or pastoral production and only 2% of the bioregion Watts and Aslin (1981) noted that the modern conception has been set aside for conservation purposes, while of the species’ distribution and habitat differed from that the corresponding figures for the NSW South Western of Gould (1863), and suggested that either the historical Slopes bioregion are even more dire, with 80% cleared, western records may have been due to confusion with M. 55% under intensive production and 1% conserved musculus, or that the species may have since disappeared (State of the Environment Advisory Council 1996). For from its western distribution as a result of habitat changes comparison, in the NSW North Coast bioregion, which caused by pastoral development. Fossil and subfossil supports the greatest number of known populations of records (summarised by Kemper (1977)) confirm that P. novaehollandiae in NSW, 37% of the bioregion has the distribution of P. novaehollandiae did indeed extend to been cleared, 21% is under intensive production and the western slopes of NSW in pre-European times. The 8% is conserved (State of the Environment Advisory Torrington record reported here further supports Gould’s Council 1996). Given the extent of habitat clearing and (1863) statements concerning the continued occurrence of fragmentation and the general scarcity of native rodents the species on the western slopes into the 19th Century. in the western slopes bioregions in NSW, surviving Further substantiation of the western slopes occurrence western populations of P. novaehollandiae should be of P. novaehollandiae was provided by the recent discovery considered to be of conservation concern, and may of the species in Goobang National Park, about 20 km warrant listing as endangered populations at a bioregional east of Parkes in the northern part of the NSW South scale under the TSC Act. Managers of western slopes Western Slopes bioregion (Faulkner et al. 1997). Ford conservation reserves, state forests, crown reserves and Australian December 2005 Zoologist volume 33 (2) 191 Dec05.indd 191 14/02/2006, 10:09 PM Murphy other public lands known or considered likely to support demonstrate the value of critical observation in the field P. novaehollandiae should consider conservation actions and the importance of supporting significant observations including field surveys to determine presence of the with voucher specimens lodged in Museum collections. The species, population and habitat monitoring, vouchers status of P. novaehollandiae on the western slopes of northern and tissue sampling for taxonomic studies, control of feral NSW remains largely unknown. Further investigation of the predators in key areas, and fire management strategies Torrington locality and other areas with potential habitat is appropriate to the ecological requirements of the species. urgently needed. In the interim, a precautionary approach The record of P. novaehollandiae documented in this paper, should be taken, with western populations of the species like the first modern record of the species in 1967, was the afforded consideration and protection as bioregionally result of acting on a fortuitous opportunity. Both records significant and at risk of extinction. Acknowledgements Thanks to Fred Ford, Sandy Ingleby and Alex Baynes for records, Jill Smith for assistance preparing Figure 2, and Dan assistance confirming identification of the P. novaehollandiae Lunney, Fred Ford, Catherine Kemper and an anonymous specimen, Phil Spark for providing a description of vegetation referee for comments on the original manuscript. The author at the Torrington collection site, Bill Faulkner and Murray Ellis would also like to acknowledge the credit owed to Geoff for information concerning the Goobang P. novaehollandiae Spencer’s initial interest in small rodents. 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