A guide to the care and use of Australian native mammals in research and teaching - 2014

Sep 15, 2026

A practical NHMRC guide for conducting research and teaching using Australian native mammals, covering ethical, welfare, and suitability considerations across major mammal groups. It provides structured background for study design and handling, species-specific guidance for taxa such as monotremes, marsupials, and eutherians, and links to key sources and definitions. Supporting appendices add taxonomic tools, blood sampling, anaesthesia and sedation, health and disease control, and legislative and policy references to support safe, compliant practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages148

Reading Time6 h 13 min

AccessFree to download

Glossary of terms and phrases

Purpose of the guide

General considerations

Suitability for research and teaching

Sources

Subclass Prototheria: Monotremes

Subclass Theria: Marsupials

Subclass Theria: Eutherians

Appendices

Index

A GUIDETOTHE CARE AND USE OF AUSTRALIAN NATIVE MAMMALS IN RESEARCH ANDTEACHING 2014 | Publication Details | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Publication title: | A guide to the care and use of Australian native mammals in research and teaching (2014) | | | Published: | October 2014 | | | Publisher: | National Health and Medical Research Council | | | NHMRC Publication reference: | EA29 | | | Online version: | [www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/ea29](www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/ea29) | | | ISBN Online:
Suggested citation: | 978-1-925129-13-7
National Health and Medical Research Council (2014) A Guide to the care and use of Australian native mammals in research and teaching, Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council | | | Disclaimer: | All information provided in this document is correct at the time of publication. | | | Copyright
© Commonwealth of Australia 2014

All material presented in this publication is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence ([www.creativecommons](www.creativecommons). [org.au](org.au)), with the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, NHMRC logo and content identified as being owned by third parties. The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website ([www.creativecommons.org.au](www.creativecommons.org.au)), as is the full legal code for the CC BY 3.0 AU licence. | | Attribution
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence is a standard form license agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work. The NHMRC’s preference is that you attribute this publication (and any material sourced from it) using the following wording: Source: National Health and Medical Research Council.
Use of images
Unless otherwise stated, all images (including background images, icons and illustrations) are copyrighted by their original owners. | Contact us To obtain information regarding NHMRC publications or submit a copyright request, contact: E: [nhmrc.publications@nhmrc.gov.au](nhmrc.publications@nhmrc.gov.au) [P: 13 000 NHMRC](P: 13 000 NHMRC) (13 000 64672) or call (02) 6217 9000 Table of contents Glossary of terms and phrases 3 Purpose of the guide 5 General considerations 6 Suitability for research and teaching 6 Sources 7 Subclass Prototheria: Monotremes 8 Echidna 8 Platypus 12 Subclass Theria: Marsupials 18 Dasyuridae 18 Numbat 25 Marsupial moles 28 Bandicoots and bilbies 31 Koala 38 Wombats 43 Macropodoids 47 Medium and larger possums 59 Brushtail possums ( Trichosurus spp.) and cuscuses 65 Ringtail possums and the greater glider 67 Smaller possums and gliders 70 Petaurid possums: gliders, Leadbeater’s possum and the striped possum 75 Pygmy-possums 77 feathertail glider 79 Honey possum 81 Subclass Theria: Eutherians 84 Bats 84 Megabats 84 Microbats 89 Dingo 94 Marine mammals 97 Native rodents 102 Appendices 107 Appendix I: Taxonomic key for Australian native mammals (Class: Mammalia) 107 Appendix II: General blood sampling guidelines 109 Appendix III: Anaesthesia and sedation 110 Appendix IV: Health issues, disease control and zoonoses 112 TABLE Of CONTENTS 1 A guide to the care and use of Australian native mammals in research and teaching Appendix V: Terms of reference 116 Appendix VI: Working Committee membership 117 Appendix VII: Legislation (including endangered species) 118 Appendix VIII: Guidelines and policies 121 Appendix IX: Relevant government departments 123 Appendix X: Useful organisations and institutions 125 Appendix XI: Experts not listed under a particular species 126 Appendix XII: Additional references 127 Index 128 Disclaimer: All information provided in this document is correct at the time of publication. TABLE Of CONTENTS A guide to the care and use of Australian native mamma

FAQs

What is the purpose of this NHMRC guide?

It aims to support the care and use of Australian native mammals in research and teaching by outlining key considerations, suitability, and supporting information.

Which main mammal groups does the guide cover?

It covers Subclass Prototheria (monotremes), Subclass Theria (marsupials), and Subclass Theria (eutherians), with species-focused sections under each group.

What types of supporting appendices are included?

The appendices provide tools and guidance such as a taxonomic key, blood sampling guidelines, anaesthesia and sedation information, health issues and zoonoses, plus legislation and relevant policies or references.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Lucas Martin