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Long-tailed Dunnart (Antechinomys longicaudatus)

The Long-tailed Dunnart is a small, carnivorous marsupial of rocky country in inland Australia. It is known from Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with records extending into central South Australia. Rocky breakaways, scree and stony plateaus should be checked before clearing, because the species is poorly known and is listed as Priority 4 in Western Australia, a near threatened category requiring monitoring.

Conservation status

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Near threatened. Priority 4 (rare, near threatened) on the Western Australian priority fauna list. Priority species are not listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 but should be considered in assessments.

Breeding season

The Long-tailed Dunnart breeds in October and November. Young disperse in March and April in the Murchison area, and timing may vary between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Marsupial. The female gives birth to young that develop in a pouch and are later reared outside the pouch.

Litter size: Up to six young.

Breeding months: October and November.

Gestation: Not recorded.

Weaning or fledging: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Breeding and shelter sites: Specific nests, burrows, hollows, caves and other breeding sites are not recorded. Rocky habitats, screes, breakaways and stony substrates are used.

Breeding and dispersal timing may vary between years and regions, so site assessments should consider local records and recent fauna observations.

  • General activity in rocky habitat: The species is terrestrial and may use rocky, rugged habitat throughout the year, including screes, breakaways, plateaus and stony substrates.
  • Breeding and births: Breeding is documented in October and November, with females bearing up to six young.
  • Young and post-breeding care: Young are likely to remain associated with the female after the October to November breeding period, but the duration of dependence is not recorded.
  • Young dispersal in the Murchison area: Young disperse in March and April in the Murchison area.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing and construction in rocky habitat may have the greatest potential to affect breeding females, dependent young and dispersing young from October to April.

Identification: Appearance

The Long-tailed Dunnart is a small, active marsupial that can be difficult to detect during site works. Its unusually long tail and pale, mouse-like appearance are the most useful identification features.

Adults weigh about 15 to 20 g and are about the size of a mouse. The body is grey, with a very pale underside and white legs and feet.

The head is flattened, with a long snout and large black eyes. The tail is highly distinctive. It is about twice the length of the head and body, has a muscular base and ends in a tuft.

  • Footpads are clearly striated.
  • The long tail and striated footpads help the animal move across rocky surfaces.
  • The species is unique among dunnarts in having a tail twice the length of the head and body.

Identification: Calls and similar species

A characteristic call has not been established for field use. Echolocation is not used by this species.

Identification should rely on a combination of body shape, tail length, colour, foot structure and habitat. The extremely long, tufted tail is the strongest feature separating it from other dunnarts.

Identification: Field signs

Reliable field signs such as distinctive droppings, nests, odours or tracks have not been established for routine site surveys. Do not treat the absence of these signs as evidence that the species is absent.

A live animal, photograph or specimen should be recorded with the precise location, habitat description and nearby landform. Avoid handling unless this is necessary for animal welfare or authorised identification.

  • Look for brief movements between rocks, shrubs and hummock grass.
  • Check rocky edges, scree and breakaways rather than relying only on open ground searches.
  • Use photographs and expert confirmation where the identification is uncertain.

Distribution: Australian range

The Long-tailed Dunnart has a scattered distribution across the arid interior. Records are few and separated by large distances, although the species can be reasonably abundant where a population is present.

The species is recorded from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and central South Australia. In Western Australia, records include the Gibson Desert, southern Carnarvon Basin, Pilbara and broader rangelands.

In the Northern Territory, it occurs around the McDonnell Range. Records in Western Australia include the Murchison and Goldfields regions. Sub-fossil material is known from Cape Range.

  • Western Australia: Pilbara, Carnarvon Basin, rangelands, Goldfields and Gibson Desert.
  • Northern Territory: McDonnell Range and surrounding central arid country.
  • South Australia: central arid areas are included in the broader known range.

Distribution: Site assessment

A site may fall within the known range even where local records are absent. Potential habitat can occur as narrow, discontinuous bands along breakaways, plateaus and rocky ranges.

Map rocky landforms and connected stony habitat before finalising access tracks, laydown areas, borrow areas and clearing limits. A lack of recent records should not be used alone to remove the species from consideration.

  • Review local museum, government and project records.
  • Map habitat beyond the development envelope where it may provide a refuge or movement connection.
  • Treat isolated rocky habitat as potentially important because populations may have limited movement between them.

Distribution: Overseas range

The Long-tailed Dunnart is an Australian species. An overseas range is not recognised.

Habitat: Landforms and substrates

Look for the Long-tailed Dunnart in rugged, dry country with exposed rock, stony soils and sparse arid vegetation. The species is associated with rocky habitats rather than uniform open sand or heavily modified ground.

Suitable habitat includes flat-topped hills, lateritic plateaus, sandstone ranges, breakaways, scree slopes and boulder-strewn slopes.

Stony substrates are useful indicators, particularly fractured or weathered mudstone and siltstone. Exposed rock and crevices may provide movement routes and cover.

  • Breakaway faces and their rocky footslopes.
  • Rugged plateaus and mesas.
  • Scree, boulder fields and fractured rock.
  • Stony plains adjoining rocky rises.

Habitat: Vegetation structure

Habitat may contain hummock grasses, spinifex, shrubs or sparse mulga over spinifex. Vegetation can be open, but the combination of ground cover and nearby rock is more useful than vegetation density alone.

Retain linked patches of rocks, shrubs and grass where possible. Avoid assuming that sparsely vegetated ground has low fauna value.

  • Spinifex hummocks around rocky features.
  • Sparse mulga over spinifex.
  • Low shrubs on stony slopes and plateaus.
  • Vegetated cracks, ledges and the edges of scree.

Habitat: Pre-clearing checks

Walk the proposed clearing boundary and inspect aerial imagery for rocky habitat that may be hidden by project scale or vegetation. Record the extent and condition of each habitat patch.

Where suitable habitat is present, use a targeted fauna survey designed for small arid mammals before major disturbance. Survey timing and methods should be set by a suitably experienced ecologist and relevant approval conditions.

  • Mark habitat on construction plans.
  • Keep disturbance within approved limits.
  • Flag boulder fields, breakaways and connected scree for spotter catcher attention.

Foraging habitat: Foraging features

The Long-tailed Dunnart feeds on a variety of invertebrates. It is likely to forage through rocky ground cover, shrubs and hummock grass, including around crevices and the edges of stony slopes.

Potential foraging habitat includes exposed rock with nearby spinifex, shrubs and leaf litter, as well as stony ground beneath sparse mulga.

Rocky surfaces provide climbing routes, while vegetation and crevices may support invertebrate prey. Retaining the habitat mosaic is preferable to retaining isolated rocks without surrounding cover.

  • Rock ledges and crevices.
  • Edges of scree and boulder fields.
  • Spinifex hummocks beside rocky ground.
  • Shrub bases and stony drainage lines associated with rocky landforms.

Foraging habitat: Works site risks

Clearing, grading and vehicle movements can remove ground cover, crush crevices and reduce the invertebrate resources used by the species. Dust, spoil placement and repeated traffic can also degrade habitat outside the formal clearing footprint.

Keep machinery and stored materials out of mapped rocky habitat unless that disturbance has been assessed and approved.

  • Use existing tracks where practicable.
  • Keep spoil, equipment and waste away from rock piles and breakaway edges.
  • Control night lighting where practicable near intact rocky habitat.
  • Rehabilitate compacted ground with locally appropriate surface materials and vegetation.

Foraging habitat: Survey approach

Because records are patchy and detection may vary, one unsuccessful search should not be treated as proof of absence. Combine habitat assessment with suitable trapping or other approved small mammal survey methods where the risk warrants it.

Survey design should consider rocky microhabitats, access constraints, animal welfare, weather and the need to avoid unnecessary disturbance.

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing

Breeding occurs in October and November, and females can bear up to six young. Specific nests, dens and breeding sites have not been identified, so all suitable rocky habitat should be treated cautiously during the breeding period.

Breeding is recorded in October and November. Young disperse in March and April in the Murchison area.

The timing of dispersal may vary between regions. Plan high impact works around local survey results, project approvals and advice from a suitably experienced ecologist.

  • Increase pre-clearing vigilance from October through the period when dependent young may be present.
  • Check machinery, rock piles and disturbed edges before daily works.
  • Avoid unnecessary disturbance of intact rocky habitat during breeding and dispersal periods.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

The exact breeding place types used by the species are not established. Do not assume that the absence of a visible nest means that breeding habitat is absent.

Potentially suitable places may include protected gaps among rocks, crevices, dense hummocks and other concealed ground cover within rocky habitat. These features should be retained where practicable.

  • Rock crevices and sheltered gaps.
  • Dense spinifex or shrub bases beside rocks.
  • Protected spaces beneath natural debris or overhangs.

Breeding habitat: Pre-clearing response

If an animal is found during clearing, stop work around the immediate location and allow the spotter catcher to assess the animal and nearby cover. Search for dependent young only under an approved fauna handling procedure.

Relocation should not be undertaken casually. It requires an appropriate release location, authority where required, and a method that protects the animal from heat, predation and further disturbance.

Sheltering habitat: Features to retain

Specific shelter sites are not well documented, but the species is strongly associated with rocky country. Sheltering habitat is likely to be found where rock, ground cover and shrubs create small protected spaces.

Retain natural rock piles, boulder fields, ledges, crevices, scree and dense ground cover. These features may provide shelter from heat, predators and disturbance.

Maintain connections between rocky shelter, spinifex hummocks and shrub cover. Avoid breaking a habitat patch into small isolated remnants.

  • Fractured rock and narrow crevices.
  • Boulder-strewn screes and breakaway bases.
  • Dense spinifex beside rocks.
  • Shrub cover on stony slopes and plateaus.

Sheltering habitat: Construction controls

Fence or clearly mark no-go areas around retained habitat. Keep vehicles, personnel, spoil and temporary facilities within approved disturbance areas.

Do not create artificial rock piles or move natural rocks without ecological advice. Moving rocks can destroy shelter and may trap or expose animals.

  • Inspect work areas before clearing and after breaks in activity.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher for clearing of rocky habitat.
  • Stop work if an animal is found in machinery, under a rock or within a clearing zone.
  • Record and report all observations, including animals found outside the approved footprint.

Sheltering habitat: Fire and habitat condition

Changes to spinifex, shrub cover and surface shelter can alter the value of rocky habitat. Fire planning should consider the need to retain a varied mosaic of vegetation and shelter around rocky landforms.

Avoid unnecessary broadscale disturbance around known or suspected habitat. Use local ecological advice when planning fire, weed control or rehabilitation.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The Long-tailed Dunnart is poorly known, and its scattered records suggest that local populations may be separated by large areas of unsuitable habitat. Development controls should therefore focus on avoiding damage to rocky habitat and maintaining links between habitat patches.

Clearing breakaways, scree, plateaus and rocky slopes can remove shelter, foraging areas and possible breeding places. Linear infrastructure can also divide habitat and increase vehicle access.

Prioritise avoidance. Where clearing cannot be avoided, keep the footprint narrow, retain connected rocky habitat and protect habitat outside the approved work area.

  • Map and flag rocky habitat before ground disturbance.
  • Use existing disturbed areas for compounds and access where practicable.
  • Keep clearing boundaries stable and readily visible to operators.

Threats: Vehicles and construction activity

Vehicle strikes, crushing of shelter and repeated traffic across stony habitat are foreseeable risks. Night works may increase disturbance and can make animal observations more difficult.

Apply low speed controls, use designated routes and have a fauna spotter catcher present for high risk clearing. Check parked machinery and stored materials before use.

  • Restrict off-road driving.
  • Cover or secure pits, trenches and other potential traps.
  • Remove waste and materials that could entrap small mammals.
  • Use lighting only where needed near retained habitat.

Threats: Fire, weeds and altered habitat

Changed fire patterns, weed invasion, dust and soil disturbance can reduce ground cover and alter the rocky habitat mosaic. Rehabilitation should restore local surface structure and vegetation rather than leaving compacted bare ground.

Keep vehicles and materials clean when moving between habitat areas, and manage weeds under the site environmental plan.

Threats: Conservation status and management level

The Long-tailed Dunnart is listed as Priority 4 in Western Australia. This is a non-statutory category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring, and is treated here as the near threatened equivalent for project planning.

For a Priority 4 species, use a precautionary level of survey and habitat avoidance. Confirm local approval requirements, engage an experienced ecologist where suitable habitat is present, and document the basis for any decision to clear or disturb rocky habitat.

  • Survey potential habitat before major clearing.
  • Use targeted mitigation where records or high quality habitat occur.
  • Monitor retained habitat and any animals encountered during works.
  • Escalate unexpected records to the project ecologist and relevant wildlife authority.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Long-tailed Dunnart is poorly known and can be patchily distributed. Survey effort should focus on rocky, rugged habitat and be scaled to the size and risk of the proposed disturbance.

Map exposed rock, stony soils, hummock grass, shrubs, breakaways, lateritic plateaus, sandstone ranges, scree slopes and boulder-strewn areas before planning field work.

Check museum, government and project records for nearby records. Treat apparently isolated records as significant because populations may be widely separated and gene flow may be limited.

Known habitat: Rocky and rugged country, including breakaways, plateaus, scree slopes, stony substrates and sparse mulga over spinifex.

Breeding period: October and November.

Dispersal period: Young disperse in March and April in the Murchison area.

  • Map habitat inside the development envelope and in the wider study area.
  • Identify rocky habitat that will be cleared, fragmented, blasted, buried or used for access.
  • Review previous survey methods, dates, weather, trapping results and identification confidence.

Survey methodology: 2. Targeted field survey

Use a combination of live trapping, motion cameras and searches for tracks or other signs. Place equipment around rocky slopes, breakaways, screes, fractured rock and adjoining hummock grass or shrub cover.

Live trapping must be designed, supervised and conducted under the relevant wildlife authority. Use species appropriate equipment, shelter, food and checking procedures, with particular care in hot or cold conditions.

Survey during suitable weather when animals are likely to be active. Repeat surveys where habitat is extensive, records are absent but habitat is suitable, or the proposed works may remove core rocky habitat.

Identification features: A small grey marsupial with a very long tufted tail, pale underparts, white feet and strongly striated footpads.

Adult weight: About 15 to 20 g.

  • Target the October to November breeding period when project timing allows, and consider additional work outside this period to improve detection.
  • Use cameras and trapping at habitat edges, beneath rocky cover and along likely movement routes.
  • Avoid relying on a single visit or on habitat mapping alone.
  • Have an experienced ecologist confirm any suspected Long-tailed Dunnart record.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey conditions and effort

Record the area searched, habitat condition, survey dates, start and finish times, weather, moon conditions where relevant, equipment locations and the number of trap nights or camera nights.

Increase effort where rocky habitat is fragmented, access is difficult, records are sparse, or the work may affect a known population. Continue until the ecologist considers that the chance of overlooking an animal is acceptably low for the project risk.

Do not interpret a negative result as proof that the species is absent. The species can be reasonably abundant at some known populations, but records are few and widely separated.

  • Record captures, photographs, tracks, scats, burrows or shelter sites, including exact location and habitat description.
  • Record non target captures and animal welfare outcomes.
  • Photograph diagnostic features where safe and lawful.
  • Submit records to the relevant state database or land manager where required.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey reporting

Prepare a clear map showing confirmed habitat, survey coverage, records, proposed clearing and areas requiring avoidance or further assessment.

Explain detection limits and whether the survey covered the breeding period or the March to April dispersal period in the Murchison area.

Flag any record that may trigger further approvals, a revised clearing plan or a fauna management condition.

  • State whether the record is confirmed, probable or unconfirmed.
  • List the qualifications and permits of people who trapped, handled or identified animals.
  • Keep original photographs, trap sheets, camera files and location data with the project records.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Avoidance is the preferred response in rocky habitat because local populations may be isolated and the species is listed as Priority 4 in Western Australia. Plan clearing around survey results, permit conditions and the October to November breeding period.

Confirm the species status and approval pathway before disturbance. In Western Australia it is listed as Priority 4, a non statutory category for rare or near threatened species needing monitoring. Confirm the equivalent requirements in the Northern Territory or any other jurisdiction where works occur.

Seek advice from the relevant wildlife and environmental authority if a record, occupied habitat or breeding place may be affected. Consider an EPBC Act referral where the action could have a significant impact on a listed matter.

Use only appropriately authorised people for trapping, handling, relocation, rehabilitation and release. In Queensland, obtain a species management program where the legal requirements for protected wildlife or interference with a breeding place apply.

  • Check clearing approvals, environmental licences, land access conditions and project specific fauna plans.
  • Confirm whether a state permit is needed for survey, capture, handling, marking, relocation or release.
  • Keep permit copies and conditions at the work front.
  • Do not assume that a Priority 4 listing removes the need for site specific assessment.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoid and protect habitat

Redesign the footprint to retain rocky hills, breakaways, screes, fractured rock, stony soils and connected hummock grass or shrub habitat wherever practicable.

Keep machinery, laydown areas, access tracks, spoil, explosives and drainage works out of retained habitat. Mark the approved disturbance boundary clearly before mobilisation.

Set exclusion zones around confirmed animals, occupied shelter sites and habitat that the ecologist identifies as likely to support the species. The distance should be set by the project ecologist and approval conditions, because species specific buffer distances are not established.

  • Fence or flag exclusion areas before clearing.
  • Use no go signage that is visible to operators and spotter catchers.
  • Prevent unnecessary night lighting, vibration, dust and traffic through retained rocky habitat.
  • Schedule blasting and heavy works away from retained habitat where practicable.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre clearance survey

Complete a final pre clearance inspection shortly before works begin. Search rocky cover, scree, breakaway faces, drainage lines, vegetation clumps and other places where a small marsupial may shelter.

Use the approved survey method and confirm that all traps and cameras have been removed before machinery enters the area. A qualified fauna spotter catcher should inspect areas that cannot be safely searched by the clearing crew.

Treat any confirmed record as a reason to pause the relevant works and reassess the clearing sequence.

  • Walk the disturbance boundary and mark retained habitat.
  • Check for animals, shelter sites, tracks and fresh signs.
  • Brief the spotter catcher on the approved footprint, exclusion zones, stop work authority and escalation contacts.
  • Record the inspection date, personnel, weather, locations searched and findings.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing and crew induction

Avoid clearing during October and November where practicable, particularly in occupied rocky habitat. If work must proceed then, use additional ecological supervision and a site specific management plan.

There is no established migration season for this species. In the Murchison area, consider the March to April dispersal of young when planning works and avoid severing movement routes through suitable rocky habitat.

Give every worker a short induction before clearing starts.

  • Show workers photographs and distinguishing features of the Long-tailed Dunnart.
  • Explain that the animal is small, fast moving and may shelter among rocks or vegetation.
  • State who can stop work and who may handle an animal.
  • Explain the injured animal and unexpected discovery procedures.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence from lower risk areas towards retained habitat, with a fauna spotter catcher present where required by the approval or fauna plan. Stop work whenever an animal, shelter site or possible breeding place is found.

Clear in small, manageable stages rather than opening the whole work area at once. Start at the edge of the approved footprint and move towards retained habitat so animals have an opportunity to move into safe areas.

Inspect each stage before machinery enters. Use hand methods around rock piles, dense cover and difficult ground where machinery could crush an animal or destroy a shelter without detection.

Do not push rocks, spoil or vegetation into retained habitat.

  • Maintain the marked exclusion zones throughout the work.
  • Keep machinery speeds low in fauna sensitive areas.
  • Stop for darkness, heat or weather when the spotter catcher considers animal welfare or detection to be compromised.
  • Reinspect areas after rock breaking, grading or collapse of unstable material.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop work and animal handling

Give the fauna spotter catcher authority to stop work immediately. Only authorised and trained people may catch, handle, examine, transport or release a Long-tailed Dunnart.

If an animal is found, isolate the area, remove immediate hazards and allow the spotter catcher to assess whether it can move safely into retained habitat. Do not chase it, pick it up casually or place it in a container without direction.

Use a secure, ventilated container and appropriate temporary care only when authorised and necessary. Keep handling time short and protect the animal from heat, cold, noise and direct sun.

  • Stop nearby machinery and personnel movement.
  • Record the animal location and the habitat from which it was removed, if removal is authorised.
  • Follow the permit, fauna plan and advice of the wildlife authority for release or relocation.
  • Do not relocate the animal to an unapproved site.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and shelter sites

The species' specific breeding places are not well defined. Treat a den, nest, concealed shelter, dependent young, lactating female or repeated use of a rocky shelter as a possible breeding place until assessed by the ecologist and relevant authority.

Stop disturbance around the find and establish a temporary exclusion zone. Do not dismantle rocks or remove cover to inspect the site unless this is specifically authorised and necessary for animal welfare.

Resume work only after the ecologist confirms the control measures and any approval requirements.

  • Photograph the site from a safe distance.
  • Record whether young, nesting material, fresh signs or repeated animal use is present.
  • Notify the project manager and approval contact immediately.
  • Document the decision to avoid, retain, relocate or proceed.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animals

Do not provide food, water or medication unless directed by a wildlife carer or veterinarian. Contact the approved wildlife rescue or veterinary pathway immediately for an injured animal.

Keep people, vehicles and dogs away. If safe, contain the animal in a dark, quiet, ventilated container under the direction of the authorised handler.

Report deaths promptly, including animals found after machinery has passed.

  • Record the location, time, apparent cause and photographs where this can be done without extra disturbance.
  • Preserve the body for scientific identification or collection only under the relevant authority.
  • Notify the regulator where required by the permit or approval.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Daily records

Maintain a fauna register for every shift. Link the register to mapping and machinery movements so the project can demonstrate what was searched, cleared, retained and found.

Record all stops, captures, relocations, injuries, deaths, breeding place observations and permit decisions.

  • Record date, time, location and habitat.
  • Record the observer, spotter catcher and equipment operator.
  • Record the action taken and the person who authorised it.
  • Attach photographs, coordinates and incident forms.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post clearance checks

Post clearance checks confirm that animals and shelter sites have not been missed. They also provide an early test of whether retained habitat remains connected and usable.

Inspect the cleared area and the edge of retained habitat after each clearing stage. Search rock piles, pushed vegetation, drainage features, machinery tracks and places where an animal could have been trapped.

Have the fauna spotter catcher or ecologist check any area where visibility was poor, rock was moved or work occurred outside the planned sequence.

Do not leave trenches, pits, pipes or material stockpiles open where animals could enter.

  • Remove or cover fauna hazards at the end of each shift.
  • Check that exclusion fencing and signs remain intact.
  • Search beneath and around mobile plant before it is moved.
  • Record the result of each inspection.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals and welfare follow up

Track every authorised relocation from capture to release. Record the release location, habitat condition, time, method and any monitoring requirement set by the wildlife authority.

Do not repeatedly move an animal because it returns to the work area. Reassess the clearing boundary, habitat connection and exclusion controls instead.

Contact the wildlife carer or veterinarian if an animal shows stress, injury or abnormal behaviour.

  • Use only approved release habitat that is within the species' known range and suitable for the animal.
  • Keep the release site away from active machinery and immediate construction hazards.
  • Record whether the animal was released, transferred for care or died.
  • Close the incident only after the authorised person confirms the outcome.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained rocky habitat where the project has removed core habitat, fragmented a breakaway or recorded animals during works. The method and duration should match the scale of disturbance and approval conditions.

Use repeat cameras, targeted trapping or other approved methods where the ecologist considers that they will provide useful evidence. Compare results with the pre clearance survey rather than relying on a single observation.

Submit required records to the land manager, regulator and state database.

  • Report all confirmed records and incidents, including negative results from follow up checks.
  • Map retained habitat, disturbed habitat, rehabilitation areas and any new records.
  • Review whether lighting, traffic, weeds, erosion or altered drainage are affecting retained habitat.
  • Escalate unexpected declines or repeated animal incidents to the regulator and project manager.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every unexpected animal death, breeding place discovery, failed exclusion, unauthorised clearing event or repeated incursion into retained habitat.

Update the clearing sequence, induction, equipment controls and fauna plan before the next work stage.

  • Identify the immediate and underlying cause.
  • Check whether the survey, buffer or supervision was adequate.
  • Record corrective actions, responsible people and completion dates.
  • Share the findings with all clearing crews and contractors.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore rocky habitat

Rehabilitation should restore rocky structure and connected ground cover, not just plant vegetation. The Long-tailed Dunnart uses rocky habitats and feeds on invertebrates, so surface structure, shelter and invertebrate habitat all matter.

Retain and replace locally sourced rock, stone and coarse woody material where this is safe and consistent with the rehabilitation design. Recreate natural variation in ground surface, including rocky edges, small shelters and links to retained habitat.

Use local soils and compatible seed or plant material where practicable. Avoid compacting or smoothing areas that are intended to provide rocky shelter or movement habitat.

Do not create isolated rock piles surrounded by bare ground if a connected habitat treatment is possible.

  • Reinstate hummock grasses, shrubs and other appropriate native cover.
  • Control erosion and keep drainage from scouring rocky slopes or depositing sediment over shelter areas.
  • Remove construction waste, surplus fill and temporary access materials.
  • Protect rehabilitated areas from unnecessary vehicle access.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Shelter and breeding structures

The species' specific breeding and shelter structures are not well defined. Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes or artificial roost structures as a default measure, because those structures are not established as a requirement for this species.

Where a qualified ecologist identifies a genuine shelter deficit, design any replacement structure around the local rocky habitat and obtain approval before installation. Natural rock cover and connected ground habitat should be the first preference.

Monitor any trial structure to confirm use and avoid creating heat, predation or entrapment risks.

  • Do not use bat boxes or bird nest boxes as substitutes for rocky habitat.
  • Use artificial structures only where they suit the species, site and approved management plan.
  • Inspect structures for safe entry, drainage, temperature and predator access.
  • Remove unsuccessful or hazardous structures under ecological advice.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and fire

Control weeds that replace hummock grass, shrubs or native ground cover, using methods suited to the site and approval conditions. Avoid chemical use that could harm animals or their invertebrate prey.

Manage water so rehabilitation does not create persistent flooding, erosion or contaminated pools in rocky habitat. Provide no supplementary water unless it is part of an approved fauna management plan.

Plan fire management with the land manager. Avoid broad disturbance of rocky cover and retain unburnt refuge habitat where practicable.

  • Use clean machinery and weed hygiene controls before entering rehabilitation areas.
  • Inspect for weed germination after rain and treat early infestations.
  • Keep fuels, chemicals and washdown water away from retained and rehabilitated habitat.
  • Record treatments, weather, area treated and follow up results.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting and construction legacy

Remove temporary lighting when it is no longer needed. Direct unavoidable lights away from retained and rehabilitated rocky habitat, use the lowest effective intensity and avoid lighting movement corridors.

Remove redundant fencing, tracks, pipes, spoil and other hazards that could trap or block small ground dwelling mammals.

Keep rehabilitated habitat free of avoidable night traffic and noise where practicable.

  • Use shields and downward directed fittings.
  • Turn lights off when work areas are unoccupied, subject to safety requirements.
  • Inspect culverts, trenches and open pipes before leaving site.
  • Restore movement links between rocky patches wherever the project layout allows.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long term monitoring

Monitor rehabilitation for establishment of native ground cover, retention of rocky shelter, weed control, erosion, vehicle damage and use by fauna. Set the monitoring period and success criteria in the rehabilitation plan and approval conditions.

Use cameras, approved trapping or other suitable methods if confirming Long-tailed Dunnart use is a project objective. Interpret results cautiously because the species is patchy and detection can vary.

Maintain management until the site is stable and the agreed rehabilitation criteria are met.

  • Photograph fixed points before works, after rehabilitation and during follow up visits.
  • Map failures such as loss of rock cover, weed invasion or isolation from retained habitat.
  • Repair failed areas promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled review.
  • Share monitoring results with the land manager and relevant authority.

Sources