Brown Antechinus

Scientific name: Antechinus stuartii
Alternative name/s:
Marsupial Mouse
Brown Antechinus Click to enlarge image
Brown Antechinus Image: Stephen Mahony
© Stephen Mahony

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Antechinus
    Species
    stuartii
    Family
    Dasyuridae
    Order
    Dasyuromorphia
    Subclass
    Marsupialia
    Class
    Mammalia
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Body: 70 mm - 140 mm

Greyish-brown above and paler below, large thin ears, tail same length as body or shorter.

Identification

Small native carnivorous marsupial, greyish-brown above and paler below. Long pointed head with bulging eyes and four pairs of small sharp incisor teeth. Ears are large, thin and crinkly with a notch in the margin. Tail is the same length as the body or shorter and is sparsely haired. It weighs up 71 grams.

Brown Antechinus, Antechinus stuartii
Brown Antechinus

Alternative name/s

Marsupial Mouse.

Habitat

Woodland and forest habitats.

Distribution

Northern and eastern Australia.

Feeding and diet

It is mostly nocturnal, coming out during the night to prey upon insects, spiders, centipedes and sometimes small reptiles and frogs. During the day it can be found in large communal nests in tree hollows, crevices or logs on the ground.

Breeding behaviours

Males live for approximately 11 months and have a short breeding cycle of about 2 weeks in winter, after which they die as a result of stress and exhaustion. Females give birth to undeveloped naked young that latch onto teats in the pouch for up to 50 days. The pouch is an open slit found on the belly.

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