A tiny mouse that lives in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, mainly in cool, moist habitats such as coastal heath, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, and scrubby edges with plenty of ground cover. Its body is usually 8–11 cm long, with a tail about the same length or slightly longer, and it weighs only a few tens of grams—light enough that a handful feels like almost nothing. The fur on the back is soft grey-brown, sometimes with a slightly warmer or olive tone, while the underside is creamy white. As its name suggests, the feet are mostly white, standing out against darker legs. The head is narrow and pointed, with big black eyes, long whiskers, and relatively large ears, giving it a very alert, “I’m listening” expression.

This dunnart is a night-time insect hunter. After dark, it comes out from nests hidden under logs, in dense grass tussocks, or in shallow burrows, and begins to patrol patches of leaf litter and low vegetation. Its diet is mostly made up of insects and other invertebrates—beetles, spiders, moths, larvae, crickets, and similar prey—but it will also take small vertebrates if it can overpower them, making it more of a little carnivore than a seed eater. It hunts by scent and sound as much as by sight, pausing often to sniff and listen, then making quick pounces with surprising speed. Sharp, finely serrated teeth and a strong jaw for its size let it crunch through tough beetle shells without trouble. Because it’s so small and energetic, it burns fuel quickly, so food-rich nights are crucial.

Like many small dasyurids, they can slip into short bouts of torpor—lowering their body temperature and slowing their metabolism—to save energy during cold or food-poor periods. This “mini-hibernation” strategy can make the difference between surviving a string of bad nights and starving.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

8,000-10,000

Official estimate

LC

2014

Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales