agile antechinus
{{Short description|Species of marsupial}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Agile antechinus{{MSW3 Groves | page = 29}}
| image = Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis) on hand.jpg
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Antechinus
| species = agilis
| authority = Dickman, Parnaby, Crowther & King 1998
| range_map = Agile_Antechnius_IUCN_Range.png
| range_map_caption = Agile antechinus range
}}
The agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis) is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. It is found in Australia.
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.{{Cite book
| last = Dickman
| first = C. R.
| contribution = Agile Antechinus
| year = 1995
| title = The Mammals of Australia
| editor-last = Strahan
| editor-first = Ronald
| pages = 98–99
| place=
| publisher = Angus & Robertson
| isbn = 0-7301-0484-2 }} However, it was not formally described until 1998.
Characteristics
The agile antechinus is nearly indistinguishable from the brown antechinus, but it is slightly smaller and its fur has a more greyish tinge. 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. Like all antechinuses, the agile antechinus has a short and violent breeding season, after which the males all die.Shimmin, Glenn A., David A. Taggart, and Peter D. Temple-Smith. "[https://www.academia.edu/download/40129087/Mating_behaviour_in_the_agile_antechinus20151118-17879-11mlo4v.pdf Mating behaviour in the agile antechinus Antechinus agilis (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)]{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}." Journal of Zoology 258.1 (2002): 39–48. The females give birth after a 27-day gestation. Groups of up to 20 have been known to nest together.
Distribution and habitat
The agile antechinus inhabits wet or moist forest in the southeastern corner of Australia.{{cite book | last = Menkhorst | first = Peter | year = 2001 | title = A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia | publisher = Oxford University Press | page = 56}} 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. Despite these threats, there is no indication that the species is at all threatened.
Gallery
File:Antechinus agilis Gould.jpg|From John Gould's Mammals of Australia
File:Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis) showing offspring inside.jpg|Female with offspring inside
File:Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis) on cloth, close-up from front.jpg|Close-up
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/thumblmar.htm Photos of agile antechinus]
{{Dasyuromorphia|D.D.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q134343}}
Category:Mammals of New South Wales
Category:Mammals of Victoria (state)