Agile Antechinus
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| Antechinus agilis Dickman, Parnaby, Crowther & King 1998 |
The Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis) is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. It is found in Australia.
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[edit] Taxonomy
The Agile Antechinus was long considered to be a form of the Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii), and was only recognised as a distinct species after a study of genetic variation within the Brown Antechinus in 1980.[3] However, it was not formally described until 1998.
[edit] Description
The Agile Antechinus is nearly indistinguishable from the Brown Antechinus, but it is slightly smaller and its fur has a more greyish tinge.[4] It feeds mostly on invertebrates, including beetles, spiders and cockroaches, but may also devour small lizards and soft berries. The species has been known to enter torpor in response to shortages of food.[3] Like all antechinuses, the Agile Antechinus has a short and violent breeding season, after which the males all die. The females give birth after a 27-day gestation.[3] Groups of up to 20 have been known to nest together.[3]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
The Agile Antechinus inhabits wet or moist forest in the southeastern corner of Australia.[4] The species is widely abundant, although it has been reduced in areas due to forest clearing, the instigation of plantations, harvesting, controlled burning and the introduction of the Cat and the Red Fox.[3]. Despite these threats, there is no indication that the species is at all threatened.[3]
[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 sp. nov.. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
- ^ a b c d e f Dickman, C. R. (1995), “Agile Antechinus”, in Strahan, Ronald, The Mammals of Australia, Angus & Robertson, pp. 98-99, ISBN 0-7301-0484-2
- ^ a b Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, 56.
