Kowari

The Kowari (dasycercus byrnei) is part of the genus Dasyuroides, family Dasyuridae. It is a marsupial carnivorous animal that lives in the desert and vegetation of Central Australia. It prefers desert rocky areas in the Lake Eyre Basin, the northern part of South Australia and south-west of Qeensland.
It's a pretty vulnerable, endangered species. Specimens from LakeEyre were in danger of extinction. It is not known if the species still exists there. The current population of kowari is estimated at 10,000 individuals.
Kowari was first described by Walter Baldwin Spencer in 1896. It can be found in foreign and specialized literature and under the names: brush-tailed marsupial rat, bushy-tailed marsupial rat, Byrne's crest-tailed kowari.

Kowari Food

Little and not very varied food gives little Kowari everything he needs. Water is found in plant sap. It is a gluttonous and gluttonous predator. Kowari has adapted well to the environment to which he belongs. Due to the harsh desert conditions it can last long enough without water.
They eat small birds, other rodents, insects, spiders, lizards, corpses as needed and other small animals.

Kowari Features

Kowari has a squirrel-like body, mostly because of its bushy tail. By the head and whiskers you can tell it's a rat. The body length is 13-18cm, and the weight ranges from 75 to 150 grams. The tail is 10-15 cm.
The head is small, and the muzzle sharp. The protruding eyes are positioned laterally. The iris is black in color. The ears are small, round and hairless. The legs are small, short and thin, ending with fingers, and fingers with sharp claws.
The coat is grey and the tail, the bushy part, black. On the belly the short, thick and fluffy fur is white.
It communicates through various gestures and movements, but also through hisses.
When in danger it tends to climb trees to escape predators. Although he is a good climber, he spends his time on the ground. It is active at night. He spends the day in his lair lined with leaves and other soft vegetation. Each burrow has several entrances. Each individual can have several Burrows. If necessary, he shares it with other individuals.
The territories of the small Kowari carnivores intersect. They mark them with urine and secretions from the glands on the chest.
Sexual maturity is reached at the age of one year.
Dasycercus byrnei byrnei, northeast of the spreading area Dasycercus byrnei pallidior, southwest of the spreading area.

Breeding Kowari

Kowari mate in summer between April and November. During the mating period the couple spends time together, in the rest each goes about his business. It is the female who digs the view and marks it with urine.
There is also the possibility of occupying an abandoned shelter if one is found and is free. After the shelter or Burrow is occupied it is lined with grass or leaves.
After mating not very long gestation period, of one month, the female gives birth to 2-7 Cubs.
At birth they are dependent on parents. They sit in the mother's bag and are fed milk.
Life expectancy is 7 years in captivity.