Brush-tailed Phascogale

Phascogale tapoatafa

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Mammalia · Dasyuromorphia · Dasyuridae

About

The brush-tailed phascogale, also known by its Australian native name tuan, the common wambenger, the black-tailed mousesack or the black-tailed phascogale, is a rat-sized arboreal carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, characterized by a tuft of black silky hairs on the terminal portion of its tail. Males of this species do not live past the age of one, as they die after reproducing.

Fun Fact

Male brush-tailed phascogales die en masse after their first breeding season — a stress-hormone surge causes their immune system to collapse, meaning no male survives past one year of age.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Dry eucalyptus forests

Diet

Insectivore

Lifespan

3-5 years

Threats

Illegal Logging
Poaching
Wildfire

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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