Adelaide, February 27 – In the world of animal survival, size plays a crucial role, especially when it comes to bite strength. A recent study on the desert rat-kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris), also known as the ngudlukanta by the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi people, suggests that this small marsupial may have had a skull built for biting—just not strong enough for the hard desert foods previously assumed to be part of its diet.
Declared extinct in 1994, this enigmatic species, native to the harsh Sturt Stony Desert in northeastern South Australia, continues to spark intrigue, with occasional reports hinting at its possible survival. Researchers now believe that understanding its dietary limitations could be key in efforts to rediscover this lost species.
A Survivor of One of the Harshest Deserts
The ngudlukanta was once a resilient desert dweller, capable of enduring extreme heat, drought, and food scarcity. It was presumed extinct until mammal researcher Hedley Herbert Finlayson rediscovered it in the 1930s. However, it soon disappeared again, eventually being declared extinct in 1994.Weighing under 1 kg, the species was highly vulnerable to introduced predators such as foxes and feral cats. Additionally, competition from rabbits, habitat degradation due to overgrazing, and poor fire management further pushed it toward extinction. Despite this, sporadic sightings described a compact marsupial with a short face and a kangaroo-like hopping gait, fueling hope that the species might still exist in remote desert regions.
Bite Analysis Reveals a Softer Diet
To shed light on the ngudlukanta’s feeding habits, researchers analyzed its skull, previously thought to be adapted for consuming hard foods such as seeds, nuts, and roots. However, the latest findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, suggest otherwise.Using finite element analysis—a method that assesses how structures handle real-world forces—researchers factored in the ngudlukanta’s small size, which was previously overlooked in bite force estimates. They found that, despite its solid skull, the species lacked the power to process tough foods like some of its relatives, such as the burrowing bettong.
Instead, early stomach content studies from the 1930s align more closely with this new biomechanical analysis, suggesting that the ngudlukanta primarily fed on softer vegetation and small insects. This refined understanding of its diet could be crucial in determining where to search for the species, should it still exist.
A Desert Mystery Yet to Be Solved
Karl Vernes, one of the study’s authors, has led multiple expeditions into the ngudlukanta’s former habitat, hoping to uncover evidence of its survival. However, despite employing techniques such as remote camera traps, genetic analysis of scat, and collaboration with Indigenous knowledge holders, no definitive proof has emerged.The mystery remains: Is the ngudlukanta truly extinct, or is it simply eluding detection in the vastness of the Australian desert?
Many species once declared extinct have later been rediscovered—dubbed “Lazarus species.” Given the remoteness and extreme conditions of its habitat, it is plausible that the ngudlukanta is among them. With improved ecological understanding and refined search strategies, scientists hope that this tiny marsupial may one day surprise the world with its return.
For now, the fate of the desert rat-kangaroo remains an unsolved enigma, waiting for the next chapter to unfold.
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