Small Marsupials

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PHOTOGRAPHY OF SMAL MAMMALS FOR IDENTIFICATION

Most photos of small terrestrial mammals submitted to Canberra Nature Map for identification that were photographed in the Canberra suburban area are of a Black Rat (Rattus rattus). The next most likely species is the House Mouse (Mus musculus). Outside the city, at present, photos of Black Rats outnumber all other small mammal photos combined. However you may have found something different. Here are some tips for what to include in your photos to increase the potential for correct identification:

An image that is sharp, not blurry;
A scale;
A view of the whole animal (preferably stretched out if it is a carcass);
Views of every surface - (not always possible but ideally this includes a profile of the head, good views of the ears, the belly, the pads on the hind feet, and a good view of the fur and skin on the tail from below and above);
Views of the teeth; and
A count of the number of teats.

Small Marsupials

Antechinuses

Other Small Marsupials

Featured sightings

Isoodon obesulus obesulus (Southern Brown Bandicoot) at Tharwa, ACT - 23 Feb 2023 by nathkay

Antechinus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Antechinus) at Namadgi National Park - 22 Jun 2024 by Ed

Isoodon obesulus obesulus (Southern Brown Bandicoot) at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - 2 May 2024 by DPRees125

Antechinus mimetes mimetes (Dusky Antechinus) at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - 28 Apr 2024 by rawshorty

Antechinus flavipes (Yellow-footed Antechinus) at Rugosa - 3 Apr 2024 by SenexRugosus

Antechinus agilis (Agile Antechinus) at QPRC LGA - 11 Mar 2024 by arjay

Antechinus agilis (Agile Antechinus) at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - 3 Feb 2024 by patrickcox

Sminthopsis murina (Common Dunnart) at Nanima, NSW - 11 May 2023 by 81mv

Latest sightings

Antechinus flavipes (Yellow-footed Antechinus) at Crowther, NSW - 25 May 2025 by Frecko

Perameles nasuta (Long-nosed Bandicoot) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 4 May 2025 by LisaH

Antechinus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Antechinus) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 4 May 2025 by LisaH

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Discussion

DallasCheryl wrote:

Yesterday

Reposted with 2 photos

Unverified Small Marsupial

DonFletcher wrote:

Yesterday

Hi DallasCheryl, thanks for your sighting. The media you provided is missing or unclear. To help us verify this sighting, please provide additional media.

Unverified Small Marsupial

MartinPredavec wrote:

11 Jun 2025

The Tasmanian subspecies is affinis.

Isoodon obesulus affinis

MartinPredavec wrote:

11 Jun 2025

Its very young

Perameles nasuta

LisaH wrote:

25 May 2025

Thank you. These images are still shots from a 20 second video from a wildlife camera. I don’t think this is a black rat, as I’ve never seen a black rat move like this - this one literally hopped vertically, at least five times its body height each time it bounced. I’ve seen black rats bound, but their movement is more of a horizontal bound than a vertical hop? Happy to send the video if you’d like?

Antechinus sp. (genus)