AUSECO

Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)

The brown antechinus is a small, carnivorous marsupial varying in weight from 3 ! " grams# They are mostly nocturnal, hunting at night for small an$ large invertebrates li%e centipe$es, cric%ets an$ larger animals li%e bir$s an$ reptiles# They spen$ their $ays in large communal nests in trees or in logs on the groun$#

Figure 1: &ale Antechinus

Mating Behaviour The life span of all males is about 11 months# The males have a short bree$ing cycle of about ' wee%s in winter after which they $ie# &any small male marsupial carnivores share this short life span inclu$ing (hascogales# )or% publishe$ in ' 13 at the University of *ueenslan$ has $iscovere$ that this behaviour %nown as +$ying off, was $riven by the male-s nee$ to out.compete with other males to father offspring# The males spen$ almost all of their energy bree$ing an$ have lots of partners with mating sessions up to 1'.1/ hours long# These long, laborious se0 sessions are $riven by high levels of certain hormones an$ have a $etrimental effect on the marsupial-s survival# The hormones inclu$e testosterone which increase out of control causing stress hormones to increase, brea%ing $own their bo$y tissues, an$ collapsing their immune system# They $ie after the mating season# After stu$ying 1' species of small marsupials in Australia, South America an$ (apua 2ew 3uinea the $ying off trait was foun$ more li%ely to evolve in species where foo$ was not available all year# 4n these habitats, females weane$ their young when foo$ was most available# Gestation and Care of Young 3estation perio$ for the young is / wee%s followe$ by up to 1 $ays buttone$ onto teats in the pouch# At this stage they are un$evelope$, na%e$ wormli%e creatures# Unli%e many other marsupials, the pouch is an open slit foun$ on the belly of the animal# After leaving the pouch the animals may spen$ up to three months in the nest# 5y 6anuary or 7ebruary they are in$epen$ent# Figure 2: 7emale antechinus caught with tiny na%e$ young being carrie$ in the open pouch# Range

AUSECO

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The brown antechinus consists of two subspecies# A northern one foun$ in north *ueenslan$ an$ a southern one foun$ from southern 2S) to southern *ueenslan$# 4t appears that bree$ing occurs later in *ueenslan$ than it $oes in the Sy$ney region# 7emales may have a variation in teat number# 4n the &onga 7orest stu$y there were two possibilities ! 8 teats or Figure 3: Antechinus 9istribution 1 teats# :&en%horst ; <night, ' 1= Ac now!edge"ents: &en%horst, (#, an$ <night, 7# :' 1= A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia, O0for$ University (ress> Australia Sy$ney &orning ?eral$, October 8, ' 13, (age 1# Copyright @ ' 13 AUSECO (#O# 5o0 3" 7orestville 2S) ' 8A