Brown Antechinus

]

---

image_caption =
trend = stable
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2008 | assessors = Burnett, S. & Dickman, C.| year = 2008 | title = Antechinus stuartii | id = 40526 |downloaded=10 October 2008]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Dasyuromorphia
familia = Dasyuridae
genus = "Antechinus"
species = "A. stuartii"
binomial = "Antechinus stuartii"
binomial_authority = Macleay, 1841

The Brown Antechinus ("Antechinus stuartii"), also known as Stuart's Antechinus and Macleay's Marsupial Mouse, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae.

Taxonomy

The Brown Antechinus was only the third in its genus to be described and as such has, until recently, included species such as the Agile Antechinus ("Antechinus agilis"), the Subtropical Antechinus ("Antechinus subtropicus") and the Tropical Antechinus ("Antechinus adustus").cite book | last = Menkhorst | first = Peter | year = 2001 | title = A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 56 | isbn = 0-19-550870-X] It has also been included itself with the Yellow-footed Antechinus as the subspecies "burrelli". It was described in 1841 by the entomologist William Sharp Macleay, who named the species in honour of his friend and fellow naturalist James Stuart who had discovered the animal at Spring Cove (North Head) in 1837 while working as surgeon in charge of the Quarantine Station. [cite web
last = Manly Quarantine Station
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Manly Council Review
work = QS Conservation Plan 2000
publisher =
date = 2007
url = http://www.manlyquarantine.com/Conservation_Plan_2000-7.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-21]

Description

The Brown Antechinus is mostly nocturnal and is arboreal, and females build large communal nests shared by many individuals. Like all antechinuses, male Brown Antechinuses die after their first breeding season (which lasts two weeks) as a result of stress and exhaustion. Female Brown Antechinuses do not possess a pouch; the young must attach themselves to the teats (of which there are usually eight). Its diet includes beetles, spiders, amphipods and cockroaches, although it is an opportunistic feeder.

Distribution and habitat

The Brown Antechinus is found east of the Great Dividing Range in Australia, from southeastern Queensland to around Kioloa, New South Wales.Citation
last = Braithwaite
first = R. W.
contribution = Brown Antechinus
year = 1995
title = The Mammals of Australia
editor-last = Strahan
editor-first = Ronald
volume =
pages = 94-97
place=
publisher = Reed Books
id = ISBN 0-7301-0484-2 ] It is mostly found in forested habitats.

References

External links

* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Antechinus_stuartii.html Animal Diversity Web]