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Quenda
Quenda digging for arthropods. Beeliar Regional Park, Bibra Lake.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Peramelemorphia
Family: Peramelidae
Genus: Isoodon
Species:
I. fusciventer
Binomial name
Isoodon fusciventer
(J. E. Gray, 1841)

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), also known as the southwestern brown bandicoot[2] or western brown bandicoot,[3] is a small marsupial species endemic to Southwest Australia.

Though it was originally treated as a subspecies of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), such as by the IUCN where it is given the status of least concern,[1] a 2018 paper proposed to raise it to species rank due to molecular and morphological analysis[4] which revealed it was more closely related to the golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus).[5]

It is currently recognised as a separate species by the ASM Mammal Diversity Database,[3] the Australian Faunal Directory[6] and the Atlas of Living Australia.[2]

Quenda are one of the few native marsupials that can still be seen in Perth's urban bushland reserves.[7] They are vulnerable to predation by feral foxes and cats and quenda populations can recover where predators are controlled.[7]

Description

[edit]

Quenda are small marsupials with a long pointed muzzle; they are usually stockily built, with short limbs and neck. The head and body length is 40–50 cm (16–20 in), tail length 13 cm (5.1 in) and weight about 1.2–1.850 kg (2.65–4.08 lb). The teeth are small, relatively even-sized and pointed, as in typical insectivore teeth. The bandicoot body is basically designed for digging in soil to extract invertebrate food. The elongate muzzle and powerful foreclaws are used for probing in crevices and rooting and digging in soil.[8]

Biology and behaviour

[edit]

This species is a solitary nocturnal feeder, but can be often observed active at times during the day depending on the proximity of predators. Quenda are omnivorous and as such they consume a range of organisms such as arthropods, plant roots, tubers and fungi.[9] Sourcing these items comes from foraging across the ground surface or by penetrating the top soil through digging.[10] The unique conical diggings that are a result of foraging by the quenda, have proven to have a positive effect on an ecosystem by aerating the soil and allowing nutrients to cycle more efficiently.[11][12]

The males are territorial and aggressive to other quenda and will fight each other.[13] This often results in ears being torn and tails lost.[13]

Quenda breed throughout the year with a peak in spring. The backward opening pouch contains eight teats arranged in an incomplete circle, and accommodates one to six (usually two to four) young in a litter. Two or three litters may be reared in a year, though this is dependent upon food availability. It has been found that older females produce more litters. In eastern Australia, gestation period is short (12–15 days). The young are weaned when about 60–70 days old.[14]

Habitat

[edit]

Scrubby, often swampy, vegetation with dense cover up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high, often feeds in adjacent forest and woodland that is burnt on a regular basis and in areas of pasture and cropland lying close to dense cover. Populations inhabiting Jarrah and Wandoo forests are usually associated with watercourses. Quenda will thrive in more open habitat subject to introduced predator control. On the Swan Coastal Plain, quenda are often associated with wetlands.[14]

Conservation status

[edit]

According to the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, this species' conservation status is Priority 4: Rare, Near Threatened and other species in need of monitoring.[15]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Quenda

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), also known as the southern brown , is a small, ground-dwelling endemic to southwestern . Roughly the size of a , it has a body length of 28–36 cm, a short stiff measuring 9–12 cm, and weighs up to 2 kg, with dark grey-brown fur, a creamy white belly, a long pointed snout, and small rounded ears. Primarily nocturnal, the quenda forages by digging conical pits for like earthworms and beetles, as well as plant material including fungi and tubers, making it a vital in its habitats. Distributed along an arc from to Albany and Esperance on the , quendas inhabit dense understorey vegetation in swamps, and jarrah woodlands, open forests near watercourses, and adapted urban settings such as backyards, parklands, and remnants. They nest in shallow depressions under shrubs or reuse burrows, emerging mainly at dawn and dusk to avoid daytime heat. This adaptability has allowed populations to persist amid , though their range has contracted by about 40% since European settlement due to . Ecologically, quendas play a crucial role by excavating up to 45 foraging pits per night, displacing over 4 tonnes of annually per individual, which aerates compacted earth, incorporates leaf litter and , reduces erosion and water repellency, and enhances nutrient cycling. Their scats, containing an average of 45 fungal species, disperse mycorrhizal fungi that boost and nutrient uptake in native like eucalypts, supporting in gardens and . As omnivores, they help control pest while promoting fungal and , effectively acting as "nature's gardeners" in both natural and modified landscapes. Reproduction occurs year-round when food is plentiful, with females carrying up to six young in a rear-facing pouch for about two months until ; adults typically live 3–4 years in the wild. Classified as a Priority 4 species under the Western Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, quendas are protected by state and commonwealth laws but face ongoing threats from habitat loss, predation by introduced foxes and cats, with rabbits, vehicle strikes (accounting for 44% of recorded deaths), , and . Conservation initiatives emphasize preserving understorey , implementing feral predator control, and raising public awareness to mitigate urban impacts and sustain their ecological contributions.

Taxonomy

Classification

The quenda is classified within the kingdom Animalia, Chordata, class Mammalia, infraclass Marsupialia, order Peramelemorphia, Peramelidae, genus Isoodon, and I. fusciventer. This placement situates the quenda among the short-nosed bandicoots, a group of ground-dwelling marsupials characterized by their omnivorous diet and habits, within the diverse Peramelidae family that includes other Australian and New Guinean species. The binomial name is Isoodon fusciventer (J. E. Gray, 1841), originally described as Perameles fusciventer from specimens collected in southwestern . Gray's description was based on morphological features such as the dark ventral fur (reflected in the specific "fusciventer," meaning dark-bellied) and robust build, naming it as a new . Historically, the quenda was treated as a , Isoodon obesulus fusciventer, of the southern brown bandicoot (I. obesulus), reflecting its morphological similarity to eastern Australian populations. In 2018, a comprehensive total evidence analysis incorporating molecular data from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, alongside 169 cranio-dental morphological characters from modern and fossil taxa, elevated it to full status. This revision highlighted and distinct cranial features, such as differences in morphology and proportions, supporting its separation from I. obesulus. The change was promptly adopted by authoritative sources, including the Western Australian Museum's checklist. Within the family, the quenda is closely related to other Isoodon species, forming a monophyletic with I. obesulus (eastern and ) and the golden bandicoot (I. auratus). Phylogenetic analyses place I. fusciventer as sister to other Isoodon species, with the crown radiation of the estimated in the Late or , supporting its distinct evolutionary trajectory among bandicoots, separate from long-nosed genera like Perameles.

Etymology and naming

The name "quenda" originates from the of the of southwest , where it refers to the . This term reflects traditional Indigenous naming practices tied to local fauna and has been adopted into broader usage to honor . Other common names for the species include southwestern brown bandicoot and western brown bandicoot, emphasizing its regional distribution and coloration. Historically, it was known under synonyms such as Perameles fusciventer following its initial scientific description. The species was first described scientifically in 1841 by British zoologist , who named it Perameles fusciventer based on specimens from . This formal naming marked its entry into Western scientific literature, though the Noongar term "quenda" predates European contact and continues to be recognized in taxonomic contexts. In , particularly in , "quenda" has gained prominence since the , appearing in conservation efforts and to promote awareness of the species' ecological role. Its use in official documents and reserves underscores ongoing cultural significance in protection.

Physical characteristics

Size and morphology

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) exhibits a stocky, robust build typical of bandicoots, with a head-body length ranging from 280 to 360 and a tail length of 90 to 120 . Adults weigh between 400 and 2,000 g, with males generally heavier than females. This compact form includes short limbs equipped with strong foreclaws for digging, a long pointed muzzle, and small rounded ears that project slightly outward. The fur is coarse and bristly, colored dark grey-brown over the body with a distinctive creamy white underbelly, providing in its preferred habitats. The tail is notably short, stiff, and sparsely haired, often appearing darker towards the tip and serving primarily for balance. features small, pointed teeth, including relatively uniform-sized canines and cheek teeth that support an omnivorous diet. is minimal, primarily manifested in males being slightly larger in overall size and mass compared to females.

Adaptations

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), a marsupial, exhibits specialized adaptations that facilitate its scratch-digging lifestyle. Its feature shortened, robust bones, enlarged muscle attachment sites, and powerful musculature, particularly in the humeral retractors, elbow extensors, and flexors of the carpus and digits, enabling efficient excavation for conical pits. These adaptations allow individuals to turn over approximately 10 kg of per day, supporting their subterranean resource acquisition. Sensory adaptations in the quenda are finely tuned to its nocturnal and underground . It possesses a superior , which aids in detecting buried and roots from afar, while its eyesight is well-adapted to low-light conditions, enhancing visibility during crepuscular and nighttime activity. As a , the female quenda has a backward-opening abdominal pouch containing eight teats arranged in an incomplete circle, which protects developing young from soil ingress during digging activities. This pouch structure accommodates litters of one to six joeys, typically two to four, for an extended period post-birth. Thermoregulation in the quenda relies on its physiological traits, including short, coarse that provides insulation against fluctuations, complemented by its capacity to utilize burrows for maintaining thermal stability. Unlike many other marsupials, quendas show distinct physiological responses to , such as altered metabolic rates, which support in variable southwestern Australian climates. Territorial interactions reveal patterns of injury in quenda extremities, underscoring their robust yet vulnerable . Males frequently exhibit partial or complete loss—averaging 124 mm in length—due to biting during fights, while scarring on ears and body surfaces is common, indicating aggressive defense of ranges.

Distribution and habitat

Geographic range

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) is endemic to southwestern , where it occupies a coastal arc primarily along the and adjacent regions. Its current distribution extends from Guilderton, north of Perth, southward to Albany and eastward to Esperance, with patchy occurrences in the Jarrah and Karri forests inland up to Hyden. This range is confined to areas of higher rainfall in the southwest and south coasts, distinguishing it from related species like the northern brown (Isoodon macrourus), which occur in eastern and . Within this range, quenda are notably present in urban and peri-urban environments, particularly in Perth's metropolitan land reserves and suburban areas, where they inhabit parklands, backyards, and fragmented remnants. Sightings are also common around Albany, extending into similar modified landscapes. Unlike its broader historical footprint, the quenda's distribution has contracted significantly due to habitat loss from land clearing and urban development, reducing its range by approximately 40% since European settlement. Global population estimates for the quenda are not available, reflecting its localized nature, but it remains locally abundant in protected conservation reserves and suitable urban fringes where threats are managed. Translocations have supplemented populations in sites such as Julimar State Forest, Tutanning Nature Reserve, and Wadderin Sanctuary (as of 2024) to bolster connectivity.

Habitat preferences

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) prefers habitats characterized by scrubby vegetation, wetlands, and swampy areas, particularly those with dense understory cover. It is commonly associated with Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) forests, where populations are typically found near watercourses that provide moist conditions and reliable access to resources. These environments support the species' need for expansive, low-lying vegetation such as Banksia woodlands and riparian zones, which offer both foraging opportunities and protective cover from predators. Microhabitat requirements for the quenda emphasize dense understory vegetation for shelter and concealment, with a preference for soft, sandy soils that facilitate digging for food and nesting. Proximity to water bodies, including streams, swamps, and wetlands, is essential, as these areas maintain damp soils and support invertebrate prey abundance. The species selects sites with vertically diverse shrub layers, typically 0.5–1.5 meters in height, avoiding open grasslands or heavily canopied areas that lack sufficient ground cover. The quenda demonstrates notable adaptation to urban and modified landscapes, thriving in remnant fragments, suburban gardens planted with , and parklands that retain connectivity. It tolerates proximity to human development, utilizing artificial features like garden beds and log piles for shelter while persisting in areas with reduced natural . Home ranges vary from 0.5 to 5 hectares, influenced by habitat quality, availability, and connectivity, with males generally occupying larger areas than females.

Behavior and ecology

Activity and social behavior

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) exhibits primarily nocturnal activity patterns, emerging approximately 30 minutes after sundown and remaining active for about 7 hours each night. Activity peaks at crepuscular periods, with individuals spending much of their time foraging and moving within their home ranges, which average 0.8–6.95 ha for males and 0.8–3.28 ha for females, varying by location and population density. In captivity, quendas allocate their time as follows: 36% resting in nests, 28% stationary, 16% moving, and smaller portions to digging, grooming, and other behaviors. Quendas maintain a solitary , with individuals generally avoiding one another except during the breeding season, and home ranges showing varying degrees of overlap depending on resource availability and . At low densities, territories are more strictly defended with minimal overlap, while higher densities (e.g., 1.24–1.45 individuals/ha) lead to greater range overlap, particularly among females. Males exhibit stronger territoriality and dominance hierarchies, often resulting in aggressive interactions that can cause scarring and injuries, enforced through physical strikes and vocalizations. Scent marking occurs via diggings, which serve as territorial indicators. Communication among quendas primarily involves vocalizations such as grunts, squeaks, sneezes, and spits, emitted when disturbed or during aggressive encounters. Subauricular glands in males expand during the breeding period, potentially aiding in olfactory signaling for social interactions. In the wild, quendas have a lifespan of up to 3.5–4.0 years, with a mean of 2–3 years, though higher male mortality rates may reduce average longevity.

Diet and foraging

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) is an opportunistic , with its diet primarily consisting of such as earthworms, beetles (Coleoptera), ants and wasps (), and bugs (), which can comprise up to 77% of its intake. These are supplemented by plant material including roots, tubers, seeds, berries, and mosses, as well as underground fungi such as truffle-like mycorrhizal fruiting bodies. Occasionally, small vertebrates like frogs or may be consumed, though this is rare. Foraging occurs primarily at night, aligning with the quenda's nocturnal habits, and involves conical pits using strong foreclaws to access subterranean prey. These pits typically measure 7–10 cm deep and 10 cm wide, with individuals creating up to 45 such excavations per night, displacing approximately 10.74 kg of daily. Olfaction guides the detection of , often through nose-poking into or leaf litter, while surface scavenging supplements underground efforts. Over a year, a single quenda can turn over nearly 4 tonnes of . As ecosystem engineers, quendas promote aeration through their digging, which enhances water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and the decomposition of leaf litter. This activity increases soil heterogeneity, elevates levels while reducing , and facilitates and fungal dispersal. Dietary composition exhibits seasonal variations, with dominating in summer when they are abundant, and a greater reliance on matter and fungi during winter or drier periods when invertebrate availability declines. This opportunism allows adaptation to fluctuating resources, maintaining nutritional balance across seasons.

Reproduction

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) has a breeding season that is generally flexible and opportunistic, often extending year-round in suitable conditions such as western Australia, with peaks in spring corresponding to increased rainfall and food availability. Females are polyoestrous, enabling multiple litters annually—up to four in some populations—allowing rapid response to environmental cues. Gestation is brief, lasting 12–15 days, among the shortest of any mammal. Litters range from 1 to 6 young (mean 2.1–3.0, typically 2–4), with neonates born altricial, blind, and hairless, immediately crawling to and attaching to one of the mother's six teats within the pouch. Litter size correlates positively with female body mass and can increase in later breeding attempts. Young remain in the pouch for 50–60 days, during which they develop , open their eyes, and grow to about 100 g before permanent . occurs around 60 days post-birth, with juveniles becoming independent shortly thereafter at 70–75 days, though they may associate with the mother briefly. is attained early, at 3–7 months of age, enabling first-year breeding in favorable conditions. Maternal care is exclusive to females, who provide transport and nourishment via the pouch and for approximately 60 days; milk composition shifts from high carbohydrates early on to lipid-rich (>80% energy) in late to support rapid growth. Males contribute nothing beyond and exhibit no . High juvenile mortality rates—up to 73% pre-weaning in some populations—due to predation, environmental stressors, and competition profoundly shape quenda , limiting recruitment and contributing to overall low adult survival beyond 3–4 years.

Conservation

Status and threats

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), endemic to and previously classified under the Isoodon obesulus species complex until taxonomic revisions in 2018, has no separate assessment. In , where the species is endemic, it holds a Priority 4 designation (Rare, Near Threatened, or in need of monitoring) under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, indicating localized conservation concerns despite its overall stability. The primary threats to quenda populations stem from predation by introduced predators, including foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and domestic or feral cats (Felis catus), which have significantly reduced numbers since European settlement. , driven by and agricultural expansion, further isolates populations and limits dispersal, exacerbating vulnerability in modified landscapes. Additional risks include vehicle strikes, particularly in peri-urban areas where roads intersect paths, and from second-generation rodenticides, which quenda may ingest directly from baits or through contaminated prey. Competition and aggressive interactions with , such as black rats (Rattus rattus), have also been documented in urban settings, potentially displacing quenda from food resources. Population trends show stability in protected urban reserves with intact vegetation and reduced predator access, but declines in rural and fragmented areas due to cumulative pressures from habitat loss and predation.

Protection measures

The quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) is protected under the Western Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, where it is classified as a Priority 4 species, indicating it is rare, near threatened, or in need of ongoing monitoring. This status mandates targeted conservation oversight, including population surveys and threat assessments by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). Key management actions focus on mitigating predation and habitat loss. The Western Shield program, DBCA's flagship initiative, implements widespread fox and feral cat baiting using 1080 poison across reserves in south-western Western Australia, achieving over 80% reduction in fox populations in treated areas. This has directly benefited quenda by creating safer environments in predator-managed zones. In urban Perth settings, habitat restoration efforts include vegetation enhancement and corridor creation; for instance, the City of Canning maintains quenda-preferred bushland and plants native species to support foraging areas. Additionally, infrastructure measures like fauna exclusion fences along highways prevent road mortality, as demonstrated by Main Roads Western Australia's barriers that guide quenda away from traffic while allowing reserve access. Research efforts emphasize and connectivity to inform conservation. A study of 42 quenda populations across used markers to assess and , revealing that remnant vegetation corridors maintain connectivity despite , which guides translocation planning. Experimental translocations have tested enhancement strategies; in 2013, 46 quenda were moved to the predator-proof fenced Craigie reserve near Perth, where the population grew to 69 individuals by 2019, demonstrating improved survival in controlled settings. Further translocations to sites like Tutanning and Boyagin Nature Reserves aim to bolster regional connectivity and . In 2024, quenda were reintroduced to Wadderin Sanctuary in the eastern wheatbelt to expand their range and enhance . Community involvement plays a vital role in urban coexistence. Programs like "Quendas in Backyards" educate residents on modifying gardens—such as leaving gaps in fences for safe passage and supervising pets to minimize predation—fostering tolerance in Perth suburbs. Local governments, including the City of Canning, partner with volunteers for monitoring and habitat projects, while promoting road awareness to reduce vehicle strikes. These measures have yielded notable successes. Predator control under Western Shield has driven quenda population recoveries and increased abundances in managed reserves, though it remains a Priority 4 species as of 2025. Translocated populations, such as at Craigie Bushland, have not only persisted but expanded, highlighting the efficacy of integrated predator management and interventions in urban fringes.

References

  1. https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/media/2147/download
  2. https://natureconservation.org.au/naturecon/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Quenda-Our-Ecosystem-Engineers.pdf
  3. https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/how-this-little-marsupial-s-poo-nurtures-urban-gardens-and-bushland
  4. https://www.publish.csiro.au/zo/ZO13030
  5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-021-02287-4
  6. https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Isoodon_fusciventer
  7. https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Peramelidae
  8. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4378.2.3
  9. https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-05/Changes---WA-Museum-Checklist---April-2018_0.pdf
  10. https://www.noongarculture.org.au/language/
  11. https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/conservation/fauna/mammals/quenda
  12. https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article/47/929/112/2609404
  13. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Isoodon_obesulus/
  14. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmor.20954
  15. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/static/FullTextFiles/071539.pdf
  16. https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/view/pdfCoverPage?instCode=61MUN_INST&filePid=13136925130007891&download=true
  17. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/071539.pdf
  18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382106481_Reintroduction_to_the_edge_of_its_range_quenda_Isoodon_fusciventer_to_Wadderin_Sanctuary_in_the_eastern_wheatbelt_of_Western_Australia
  19. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/925284.pdf
  20. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/627351.pdf
  21. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866717302492
  22. https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article-pdf/47/929/112/8129735/sev012.pdf
  23. https://aszk.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Southern-Brown-Bandicoot-Isoodon-obesulus-Read-B.-2016.pdf
  24. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1483&context=theses_hons
  25. https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/xkdpi2df/4-1-7-translocation-of-quenda-alters-microhabitat-of-urban-bushland-reserve-report_v3.pdf
  26. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/Journals/080346/080346-05.pdf
  27. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO07035
  28. https://annualreports.mainroads.wa.gov.au/AR-2023/welcome/our-stories/fauna-fence-helps-protect-quendas.html
  29. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/Journals/082018/082018-01.pdf
  30. https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/animals/animal-factsheets/quenda.pdf
  31. https://healthywildlife.perthnrm.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/10/Information-Sheet-Rodenticides-and-Wildlife-Healthy-Wildlife-05-09-2017.pdf
  32. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aec.13477
  33. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204619301410
  34. http://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/management/threat-management/invasive-animals/western-shield
  35. https://www.canning.wa.gov.au/city-services/community-initiatives/conservation-and-environment/fauna-in-our-city/conservation-of-significant-fauna/
  36. https://walovesnature.org.au/quenda/
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