Red-tailed phascogale

Phascogale calura

Blamed on cats

IUCN status: Near Threatened

EPBC Predator Threat Rating: Very high

IUCN claim: “Predation by feral cats is considered to be a severe threat over the species’ entire range, but has not been quantified.”

Studies in support

Cats hunt phascogales (Short & Hide 2011). Phascogales were last confirmed at the Canning Stock Route 40-51 years after cats arrived (Wallach and Lundgren 2025).

Studies not in support

Phascogales were last confirmed in the Western Division of NSW 23 years before, to 27 years after, cats arrived (Wallach and Lundgren 2025).

Is the threat claim evidence-based?

No studies were found linking cats to red-tailed phascogale population trends. In one region it cannot be verrified that extirpation occurred after cat arrival.

Evidence linking Phascogale calura to cats. A. Systematic review of evidence for an association between Phascogale calura and cats. Positive studies are in support of the hypothesis that cats contribute to the decline of Phascogale calura, negative studies are not in support. Predation studies include studies documenting hunting or scavenging; baiting studies are associations between poison baiting and threatened mammal abundance where information on predator abundance is not provided; population studies are associations between threatened mammal and predator abundance. Gold borders indicate studies that meet qualities of scientific rigour. B. Last records of extirpated populations relative to earliest local records of cats. Error bars show minimum and maximum extinction intervals. Predator arrival records were digitized from Abbott 2008. See methods section in Wallach and Lundgren 2025 for details on evidence categories.
Evidence linking Phascogale calura to cats. A. Systematic review of evidence for an association between Phascogale calura and cats. Positive studies are in support of the hypothesis that cats contribute to the decline of Phascogale calura, negative studies are not in support. Predation studies include studies documenting hunting or scavenging; baiting studies are associations between poison baiting and threatened mammal abundance where information on predator abundance is not provided; population studies are associations between threatened mammal and predator abundance. Gold borders indicate studies that meet qualities of scientific rigour. B. Last records of extirpated populations relative to earliest local records of cats. Error bars show minimum and maximum extinction intervals. Predator arrival records were digitized from Abbott 2008. See methods section in Wallach and Lundgren 2025 for details on evidence categories.

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).

EPBC. (2015) Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Department of Environment, Government of Australia. (Table A1).

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

Short, J. and Hide, A., 2011. Distribution and status of the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura). Australian Mammalogy, 34(1), pp.88-99.

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