Home Range and Movement Patterns of Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) In Coastal Dry Heathland, Anglesea, Victoria.

Abstract

Sminthopsis leucopus is a small dasyurid distributed in south-eastern Australia. Radiotelemetry in conjunction with live capture trapping was used to investigate home range size and habitat utilisation of S. leucopus. The average distance moved showed no significant differences between sexes or between seasons. The observed range length and home range area were similar for both sexes. The mean home range area (95% harmonic mean) for S. leucopus was 0.917 hectares. Home ranges of males and females revealed a high degree of overlap. Activity during the day was low and highest in the hours following dusk.