Dibbler

Dibblers
: Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Marsupialia : Dasyuromorphia : Dasyuridae : Parantechinus
Binomial names
Parantechinus apicalis Parantechinus bilarni

Location: Southwestern Western Australia, Boullanger, Whitlock, and Escape Islands, some national parks/reserves
Status: Endangered

Dibblers weigh about 40-100 grams (1.4-3.6 oz) and eat insects, small reptiles, and nectar. Dibblers are nocturnal.

In the early 1800s, dibblers were widely distributed across Western Australia. In 1967, they were thought to be extinct, but some were found on the southern coast of Western Australia. They are threatened by habitat loss (land clearing, forest fires) and predators. Their predators are mainly foxes and cats.

Taxonomy

Within the genus Parantechinus, the following species exist:

• Parantechinus apialis — Southern Dibbler
• Parantechinus bilarni — Sandstone Dibbler

External links

• [ http://www.animalinfo.org/species/paraapic.htm]
• [ http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/wildlife_facts_au_dibbler.html]
• [ http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/dasyur/dibbler.html]