For many years this species went largely unnoticed, ignored even. It was the humble boganus.

The species was typified by its black pelt and black footings and unusual plumage – some described it as business at the front and party out the back.

They were plentiful, particularly around the southern suburbs of the capital of the great western land and out to the west of the hallowed grounds of the east.

Then something changed. There was a big climatic shift causing many of the boganus to migrate. To the north they went to where the earth was red and where the coal was plentiful.

And they started to change.

Was this simple evolution at work or was it something else? Science is yet to come up with an answer to that.

Whatever the reason, the humble boganus started showing some massive cashedupus trends.

It started to happen about 2003 but the effects really became noticeable a couple of years later.

Perhaps the biggest change was in their migratory habits. Instead of the clapped out Datsunus or rust splattered Toranus they started to sporting Wasabi Green V8 Uteus. Then there were the plentiful jetus skius.

Their habitats started to become more extravagant too. Wide screenus TVus and expensive stereo systems started to appear.

Then there were the gigantic fire pits that they started to favour – often decorated with acres of stainless steel.

It was the rise of a truly unique and fascinating genus.

Then about three years ago came the great economic winter that greatly thinned their ranks. But this species is nothing if not resilient.

As the first rays of global recovery shone through, the mighty roar of the V8us Uteus resounded around their enclaves. They were back and bigger than ever.

Cashedupus boganus faces another threat though.

This is one as insidious as the cane toads that have gradually made their way from the Queensland cane fields all the way to Perth.

This invader has also made its way west and also to the north.

Instead of Queensland, though, this vile creature has come out of a place called Canberra.

Its arrival on the cashedupus boganus territory has been a while coming but come it has.

This creature is the result of when good gummits go bad.

The gummit was brought into Australia in the late 1890s. It became all the rage as a pet in about 1901.

As often happens with fads though, the ardour for them can quickly cool and a number of gummits were discarded into the Australian bush.

They became feral and their power grew.

So too did their hunger for revenue. A ravenous feral gummit is a truly frightful creature.

These feral gummits, ruled by the pride leader with her distinctive red plumage, have moved into the cashedupus boganus hinterlands and are starting to consume their food sources.

This means the cashedupus boganus – which is already in short supply (there have been suggestions we may have to introduce some cashedupus boganus from other lands to keep the herds viable) is under threat.

Various feral gummit eradication programs have been recommended but it is too late for that – they are too entwined into local ecosystems now.

So spare a thought for the humble cashedupus boganus whose time in the sun may be passing.

This article first appeared in ILN's sister publication MiningNews.net.