Greater Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus conditor)

The Greater Stick Nest Rat


The greater stick-nest rat was once widespread over the southern arid portions of Australia. Animals brought over by the Europeans wiped out the shrubs used by the greater sick-nest rat. Unfortunately the greater stick-nest rat no longer exists on the mainland of Australia. The only known population of this species now exists on the Franklin Islands. Greater stick-nest rats are critically endangered.

Greater stick-nest rats are rather large measuring an average of 240mm (including head and body), with an average tail measurement of 165mm. The average stick-nest rat weighs around 300g. Coloration is a brown/grey hue that fades into a light grey on the underbelly, tail coloration is brown/grey on the top and light grey underneath. The ears are round with some pink on the inside.

Greater stick-nest rats do not live near appropriate water sources, most of their water requirements are met through their diet. Succulents, leaves, and fruit are the primary staples of the diet supplemented by other plant materials at times.

Breeding peaks during autumn and winter. The average gestation period lasts a little over a month; litters usually produce 2 or 3 young. Young are attached to their mother for 30 days. Independence occurs shortly after that. Young may stay in the family nest after independence. Breeding may be monogamous.

Further Information on the Greater Stick-nest Rat:

Bibliography

A Field guide to the Mammals of Australia, Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. ©2001.

Greater Stick-nest Rat (Wopilkara), Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, 8/8/04, http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/pdf_files/sp_greater_stick-nest_rat.pdf.