Swainson's antechinus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dusky antechinus |
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| Male dusky antechinus | |
| Conservation status | |
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Antechinus
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| Species: |
swainsonii
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| Dusky antechinus range | |
The dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii) is a small, meat-eating marsupial that lives in Australia. It's also known as Swainson's antechinus or the dusky marsupial mouse. This animal belongs to a group of marsupials called Dasyuridae.
Contents
About the Dusky Antechinus Name
Scientists first described the dusky antechinus in 1840. An English naturalist named George Robert Waterhouse gave it its scientific name. It was named after William Swainson, who was a zoologist and artist.
There are three slightly different types of dusky antechinus, called subspecies:
- A. s. swainsonii: This type lives in Tasmania.
- A. s. insulanus: You can find this one in Grampians National Park in Victoria.
- A. s. mimetes: This subspecies lives from southeastern Queensland down through eastern New South Wales to southwestern Victoria.
What Does the Dusky Antechinus Look Like?
The dusky antechinus is the largest of all the antechinus species. It can be found in two main colors: a dark form and a pale form. Even the pale form has darker fur than its relatives.
Unlike many other small animals, the dusky antechinus is active during the day. This means it is a diurnal animal. It spends its time hunting for food.
Dusky Antechinus Diet
These animals mostly eat small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates. Sometimes, they will also eat small lizards and skinks.
Dusky Antechinus Life Cycle and Sounds
Like all antechinuses, the dusky antechinus has a short and busy mating season. This usually happens during winter. After this period, almost all the male antechinuses die. However, some females and even a few males of this species can live to have babies more than once. This is more common for the dusky antechinus because it is larger than other antechinus species.
The dusky antechinus is also known for being quite noisy. It has been heard making hissing and chattering sounds. This is unusual for an antechinus.
Where the Dusky Antechinus Lives
The dusky antechinus lives in southeastern Queensland down to southwestern Victoria in Australia. It is also found on the island of Tasmania.
These animals prefer to live in mountain areas. You can find them in places like Kosciuszko National Park and the Brindabella Ranges. They like habitats with alpine heath or tall, open forests that have a thick layer of plants close to the ground.
Threats to the Dusky Antechinus
Even though the dusky antechinus is not currently an endangered species, some local groups of these animals have become smaller. This can happen because of things like controlled burning (fires set on purpose to manage land) and when native forests are cut down to plant pine trees.
Animals like the cat and the red fox can also be a danger to local populations of the dusky antechinus.
See also
In Spanish: Antechinus swainsonii para niños
