DIADEM LEAF-NOSED BAT

Subspecies reginae, photographed near Mount Carbine, north Queensland, February 2018

100                  DIADEM LEAF-NOSED BAT                  Hipposideros diadema 

AUSTRALIAN                100

Two distinct subspecies, which may be separate species; inornatus found in sandstone escarpments of Arnham Land; reginae found from coastal n Queensland to Townsville. Uncommon. Roosts in mines, caves, buildings and culverts. Forages in variety of vegetation from rainforest to open eucalyptus. Feeds on flying insects on the wing by perch and sally or direct pursuit.

NOTE: this individual flew into my car while I was driving at low speed; it was stunned but quickly flew off.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND FLYING FOX

Photographed on Christmas Island, December 2016

99                   CHRISTMAS ISLAND FLYING FOX                      Pteropus melanotus

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS                 99

Also known as Blyth's Flying Fox and Black-earred Flying Fox. Found on Christmas Island, Andaman Islands, Nicobar Inlands and Sumatra. Population on Christmas Island critically endangered. More diurnal than most bats. Feeds on fruits and flowers.

EASTERN BETTONG

Photographed at Mulligan's Flat, Canberra, February 2018

98                   EASTERN BETTONG                Bettongia gaimardi

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS                  98

Also known as Tasmanian or Southern Bettong. Range: south eastern Australia and Tasmania; mainland population became extinct in 1920s but Tasmanian subspecies reintroduced into Mulligan's Flat in Canberra in 2012. Nocturnal, sleeps during day in a domed nest. Main component of diet is underground fungi, roots and tubers, also eats insects and grubs.

TIGER QUOLL

Photographed at Mountain Valley Wilderness, Loonguna, Tasmania, January 2018

97               SPOT-TAILED QUOLL                 Dasyurus maculatus

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS                  97

Also known as Spotted-tailed Quoll, Tiger Quoll or Tiger Cat. Endangered on mainland: sparse in se Australia from Fraser Island (Q) to sw Victoria, Vulnerable inTasmania where widespread. Found from sea-level to sub-alps in many habitats. Race gracilis is isolated in ne Qin upland rainforests from Mt Finnigan to s. Atherton Tablelands. Solitary, mostly nocturnal, partly arboreal. Eats small to medium sized mammals and birds and large arthropods.

Photographed at Mungo Brush, NSW December 2019

TASMANIAN DEVIL

Photographed at Mountain Valley Wilderness, Loonguna, Tasmania, January 2018

96                  TASMANIAN DEVIL                 Sarcophilis harrisi

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS                  96

Largest living marsupial carnivores. Widespread across Tasmania but becoming rare as population devastated by facial tumour disease. Found in most habitats, including outer urban; most common in dry sclerophyll forest and coastal woodlands with patches of open grassland. Nocturnal and crepuscular; scavenger and predator.

EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOT

Photographed at Eaglehawk, Tasmania, January 2018

95                  EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOT                   Preameles gunnii

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS               95           

Found in ne 2/3 of Tasmania where vulnerable; also pockets in Victoria derived from captive-bred animals, endangered. Occupies grassland, pasture with patches of dense vegetation for shelter. Nocturnal, solitary, digs in topsoil for invertebrates and tubers.  

MOUNTAIN BRUSHTAIL POSSUM

Photographed in the Snowy Mountains, east of Adaminaby, NSW, December 2017

94                     MOUNTAIN BRUSHTAIL POSSUM                  Trichosurus cunninghami

AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS                 94

Also known as Southern Bobuck. Nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial. Only described as separate species in 2002. Usually found in wet sclerophyll forest in se Australia along to the south and east of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia from southern Victoria to se Queensland.