The diet and foraging behaviour of an arboreal marsupial, the brush-tailed
phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa), was
examined in the jarrah forest of south-western Australia. Radio-tracking was
used to confirm the species’ nocturnal foraging habit and to make direct
observations of foraging behaviour. Eleven stomachs, and a collection of 45
scats obtained during summer and autumn, were microscopically examined for
content. The availability of major prey items (invertebrates found on or under
the bark of tree trunks) was quantified. Phascogales proved to be foraging
generalists, and their diet predominantly consisted of invertebrates. Some
invertebrate taxa appeared to be preferred but few taxa were avoided. Active
pursuit of vertebrates was negligible. However, the species appears
opportunistic, and scavenging of vertebrates may contribute to the diet.
Nectar was also taken, appearing to be a particularly prized but rare and
patchy food source. It is suggested that the current and former distributions
of this species have been constrained by both the seasonal reliability of
rainfall and the diversity of food resources.
A frog that eats foam: predation on the nest of Polypedates sp. (Rhacophoridae) by Euphlyctis sp. (Dicroglossidae)