Potoroos, rock-rats and quolls have earned the dubious honour of topping a list of Aussie mammals most at risk from being wiped out by feral cats and foxes.
A team of more than 20 scientists drew up the list of non-flying mammals most vulnerable to the introduced predators so conservationists can better target their efforts to save them from extinction.
"We found that 63 or about one in three surviving mammal species are highly susceptible to predation by cats and foxes," Latrobe University's Dr Jim Radford said.
"Our study shows that introduced predators remain a significant threat to numerous mammals, many of which are clinging to survival by a thread."
The critically endangered Gilbert's potoroo and central rock-rat topped the list of mammals most susceptible to foxes and feral cats.
The endangered Eastern quoll and Western Barred bandicoot were also high on the list.
The team of scientists behind the study said the likelihood of many of the at-risk mammals recovering in terms of their population hinges on the effective control of their greatest threats.
They said while 10 of the mammal species are being helped by measures including predator-free enclosures or being moved to predator-free areas, a further 51 species considered to be at high risk also needed help from conservationists.
Dr Radford said cats and foxes have already played a leading role in at least 25 mammal extinctions.
"Knowing which species are most at risk will help us prioritise where cat and fox control is most needed," he said.
The findings were published in the journal Wildlife Research on Wednesday.
TOP 12 AUSSIE MAMMALS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO FERAL CATS AND FOXES
* Gilbert's Potoroo Potorous gilbertii (critically endangered)
* Central Rock-rat Zyzomys pedunculatus (critically endangered)
* Eastern Quoll Dasyurus viverrinus (endangered)
* Western Barred Bandicoot Perameles bougainville (endangered)
* Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii (endangered on mainland Australia)
* Rufous Hare-wallaby or Mala Lagorchestes hirsutus (endangered on mainland Australia)
* Banded Hare-wallaby Lagostrophus fasciatus (vulnerable)
* Djoongari or Shark Bay Mouse Pseudomys fieldi (vulnerable)
* Boodie or Burrowing Bettong Bettongia lesueur (vulnerable)
* Greater Stick-nest Rat Leporillus conditor (vulnerable)
* Tasmanian Pademelon Thylogale billardierii (extinct on mainland, surviving in Tasmania)
* Eastern Bettong Bettongia gaimardi (extinct on mainland, surviving in Tasmania)
Source: Threatened Species Recovery Hub
Australian Associated Press
