Small Marsupials
PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMALL MAMMALS FOR IDENTIFICATION
Most photos of small terrestrial mammals submitted to Canberra Nature Map for identification that were photographed in the Canberra suburban area are of a Black Rat (Rattus rattus). The next most likely species is the House Mouse (Mus musculus). Outside the city, at present, photos of Black Rats outnumber all other small mammal photos combined. However you may have found something different. Here are some tips for what to include in your photos to increase the potential for correct identification:
- An image that is sharp, not blurry;
- A scale;
- A view of the whole animal (preferably stretched out if it is a carcass);
- Views of every surface - (not always possible but ideally this includes a profile of the head, good views of the ears, the belly, the pads on the hind feet, and a good view of the fur and skin on the tail from below and above);
- Views of the teeth; and
- A count of the number of teats.
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Discussion
Liam.m
wrote:
10 Sep 2025
@DonFletcher pretty confident. I think house mouse can be ruled out pretty easily based on what @81mv has said, though it would’ve been easier if we could see the tail also. I think the shadows may make the head stripe less visible, but I think it’s worth noting that in my experience (living on a property where we find dunnarts from time to time) I have found that as a general rule the head stripe is not super pronounced in any individual of this species in the area (but this is just my personal experience). I would be willing to call it.
Sminthopsis murina
DonFletcher
wrote:
10 Sep 2025
@81mv where is its tail please, I cant see it? And are those eyes really different to a House Mouse?
The habitat is wrong for Antechinus and I think the snout is not pointed as much as Antechinus. I think the contest would be between Common Dunnart and House Mouse but the animal in the images seems to lacks the head striping of a dunnart, which I would have thought could be readily visible in a dorsal closeup view such as this. Also its nose seems less pointed than a dunnart but I'm unsure, depending on the angle ...
@Liam.m how confident are you about Common Dunnart?
The habitat is wrong for Antechinus and I think the snout is not pointed as much as Antechinus. I think the contest would be between Common Dunnart and House Mouse but the animal in the images seems to lacks the head striping of a dunnart, which I would have thought could be readily visible in a dorsal closeup view such as this. Also its nose seems less pointed than a dunnart but I'm unsure, depending on the angle ...
@Liam.m how confident are you about Common Dunnart?
Sminthopsis murina
81mv
wrote:
9 Sep 2025
No, large dark eyes, sharply pointed snout, fairly short tail. Antechinus or dunnart but it was too deep in the bush to get a good look.
Sminthopsis murina
Significant sightings
- Bettongia penicillata
- Myrmecobius fasciatus
- Perameles nasuta at Uriarra Village, ACT
- Isoodon obesulus obesulus at Tharwa, ACT
- Peramelidae (family) at Cotter River, ACT
- Perameles nasuta at Cotter River, ACT
- Perameles nasuta at Booth, ACT
- Perameles nasuta at Booth, ACT
- Perameles nasuta at Booth, ACT
- Perameles nasuta at Booth, ACT
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