Cinnamon Antechinus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Antechinus leo Van Dyck, 1980 |
The Cinnamon Antechinus (Antechinus leo), also known as the Iron Ranges Antechinus and the Cape York Antechinus, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. It is the only mammal endemic to Cape York Peninsula, being confined to semi-deciduous forest around the McIlraith and Iron Ranges. Along with the Atherton Antechinus (Antechinus godmani), it is the rarest in its genus.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Description
The Cinnamon Antechinus is one of the largest of the antechinuses, and is more rufous than its relatives. It is nocturnal and arboreal, and feeds on various invertebrates. Like all antechinuses, the males die following the breeding season.[3]
The Cinnamon Antechinus, as its name implies, has mostly cinnamon-coloured fur, although it does have a darker mid-head stripe.[4] Its mating season is in September.[3]
[edit] Habitat
The Cinnamon Antechinus has a very restricted range, being completely confined to a small area on Cape York Peninsula, where it inhabits semi-deciduoous rainforest. Despite being locally common, it is classed as near threatened by the IUCN due to the limits of its distribution.
[edit] Classification
The Cinnamon Antechinus was not scientifically described until 1980. It had previously been confused with both the Yellow-footed Antechinus (A. flavipes rubeculus) and the Atherton Antechinus (A. godmani). A member of the dasyurid family, the species name of the Cinnamon Antechinus, leo, refers to the lion-like cinnamon colour of its fur.
[edit] References
- ^ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 29. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group (1996). Antechinus leo. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
- ^ a b c Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, 54.
- ^ Leung, L.K-P. (1995), "Cinnamon Antechinus", in Strahan, Ronald, The Mammals of Australia, Reed Books, at 91-92
