Lesser stick-nest rat

Leporillus apicalis

Blamed on cats

IUCN status: Extinct

Last seen: Leporillus apicalis were last seen in 1933 in Norman Tindale, near Mt Crombie, south of the Musgrave Ranges in north-western South Australia (IUCN 2023)

IUCN claim: “Predation by feral cats is considered the main cause of extinction. The arrival of Red Foxes in range may have driven remnant subpopulations to extinction”

Studies in support

Lesser stick-nest rats were last confirmed in Norman Tindale, the Western Division of NSW, southern NT (three records) and Euston 43-53, 3-53, 5-27, and 7-17 years after cats arrived, respectively (Wallach and Lundgren 2025).

Studies not in support

Lesser stick-nest rats were last confirmed in northwest Victoria 4 years before, to 17 years after, cats arrived (Wallach and Lundgren 2025).

Is the threat claim evidence-based?

In one region it cannot be verified that extirpation occurred after cat arrival.

Evidence linking Leporillus apicalis to cats. Last records of extirpated populations relative to earliest local records of cats. Error bars show record uncertainty range. Predator arrival records were digitized from Abbott 2008.
Evidence linking Leporillus apicalis to cats. Last records of extirpated populations relative to earliest local records of cats. Error bars show record uncertainty range. Predator arrival records were digitized from Abbott 2008.

References

Abbott, The spread of the cat, Felis catus, in Australia: re-examination of the current conceptual model with additional information. Conservation Science Western Australia 7 (2008).

IUCN Red List. https://www.iucnredlist.org/ Accessed June 2023

Wallach A.D., Lundgren E.J. (2025) Review of evidence that foxes and cats cause extinctions of Australia’s endemic mammals. BioScience. DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaf046