Dibbler

Key takeaways

Dibbler belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Dibbler to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Dibbler from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) is an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands. It is a member of the order Dasyuromorphia, and the only member of the genus Parantechinus. The dibbler is a small, nocturnal carnivore with speckled fur that is white around the eyes.

Description The dibbler is 10–16 cm (3.9–6.3 in) long with a 7.5–12 cm (3.0–4.7 in) tail; it weighs 40–125 g (1.4–4.4 oz). Distinctive features include a white eye-ring, gray-brown fur flecked with white hairs, and a short tapering tail. It has strong jaws and large canine teeth for killing prey, which include small vertebrates such as mice, birds and lizards, as well as insects and other invertebrates. They are semi-arboreal and will also feed on nectar from flowering plants and berries. Dibblers weigh about 40–135 grams (1.4–3.6 oz).The breeding season for the species is March–April, with the female able to give birth and raise up to eight young. The dibbler is a solitary, mostly crepuscular species. The dibbler is found in southwestern Western Australia, where it is located on Boullanger Island, Whitlock Island, and Escape Island, (translocated) off Jurien Bay. They are also found on the south coast in the Fitzgerald River National Park, Peniup Proposed Nature Reserve (where it was re-introduced) and on Gunton Island in the Recherche Archipelago (where it was also re-introduced). They have also recently been released on Dirk Hartog Island as part of the Return to 1616 project run by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. There were attempted releases at the Stirling Range National Park and Waychinicup National Park but it is not thought that they still persist in those locations. A specimen was also captured in Torndirrup National Park south of Albany. The dibbler resides in unburnt vegetation areas with thick litter layers and sandy soils, typically occupying coastal mallee-heath vegetation communities on the south coast.

Taxonomy

Classification The dibbler is the only member of its genus, Parantechinus, the name indicating that it is "antechinus-like". The specific epithet, apicalis, means "pointed". This genus formerly included the sandstone false antechinus, which is now placed in the genus Pseudantechinus. The genus Parantechinus contains only the single species, Parantechinus apicalis, the dibbler. It was first described in 1842 by John Edward Gray, who placed it in the genus Phascogale. He identified the specimen as being Australasian in origin. The genus Parantechinus was created for the species in 1947 by George Henry Hamilton Tate. The species was also assigned to the genus Antechinus, before being split to its own genus. There are various arrangements of the genera in this section of family Dasyuridae, many of which are supported by molecular systematics, and their relationship remains unresolved.

Common name The name 'dibbler' is used by government and scientific authorities, and in popular usage, to refer to this species exclusively. In the Dibbler Recovery Plan, Senior DBCA scientist, Dr. Tony Friend notes:

Strahan (2003) introduced the common name "southern dibbler" for P. apicalis [Parantechinus apicalis] and "northern dibbler" for the sandstone antechinus" [Pseudantechinus bilarni] ... the well-established use of "dibbler" to refer only to P. apicalis is recommended and is followed in this plan." A number of common names derive from previous systematic arrangements. John Gould gave several names from the Noongar language; Marn-dern and Wy-a-lung are from northern areas, Dib-bler is from the dialect spoken in the King George Sound region. The practice of restoring traditional names to marsupial species has conserved this common name. Gould referred to the species as the freckled antechinus, and it has also been known as the speckled marsupial mouse. The online edition of Mammal Species of the World gave the name Southern dibbler in 2009. A species known as the Northern (or sandstone) dibbler, Pseudantechinus bilarni, is found in the Northern Territory. This species has been distinguished by the name Southern dibbler, however this name is given in The Mammals of Australia (2008), the formative guide for Australian mammal nomenclature worldwide.

Conservation status In the early 19th century, dibblers were widely distributed across Western Australia. By 1884, they were declared extinct, but some were rediscovered at Cheyne Beach on the southern coast of Western Australia in 1967. They are threatened by habitat loss (land clearing, dieback) and predators; they are considered an endangered species. Their predators are mainly feral foxes and feral cats. Perth Zoo in Western Australia operates a conservation project for the dibbler which is helpful in its survival and breeding; along with the Department of Environment and Conservation, this project has helped to breed and release more dibblers into the wild.

References

External links Southern Dibbler World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) ARKive - images and movies of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) entry on dibblers at Australianfauna.com The dibbler at Animal Info dibbler factsheet more info on the dibbler the rediscovery of the dibbler

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Dibbler

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Dibbler claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Dibbler before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Dibbler ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Dibbler

In research: Dibbler appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Dibbler in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Dibbler is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Dasyuromorphs, Endangered fauna of Australia, IUCN Red List endangered species, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Dibbler outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study Dibbler in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Dibbler means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Dibbler out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dibbler in simple terms?

The dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) is an endangered species of marsupial. It is an inhabitant of the southwest mainland of Western Australia and some offshore islands.

Why does Dibbler matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Dibbler?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Dibbler.