Antechinus agilis

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Family

Dasyuridae

Genus

Antechinus

Species

agilis

Common name/s

Agile Antechinus

Distinguishing Features

This fairly small marsupial has a head and body length of around 10cm and a tail of the same length. Their fur is a grey brown colour above and a lighter grey underneath. The dark eyes are large and prominent, as are the round, pink-grey ears. The tail is thin with some fur and the feet are lighter coloured than the rest of the animal.

Species Call

Mothers give a soft ©chit© cry to their young, to which a weak ©siss© cry is given from the nestlings. Adults displaying aggression make more intense ©siss© cries.

Similar Species

This species is often confused with the larger Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii). From a distance, it may also be confused for a Black Rat (Rattus rattus ) or Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes ).

Distribution

The range of this species is restricted to the southeastern half of Victoraia and the most southern areas of NSW, along the south coast and inland to an altitude of 2000m.

Country of Origin

Australia

Survey Techniques

Trapping

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999. It may be considered a pest in some household environments.

Associated vegetation community

This species inhabits a range of forest environments. They are also found in urban areas with links to nearby native vegetation.

Limiting Resources

This species depends upon hollow trees and logs on the forest floor for nesting and foraging resources. It requires a constant supply of native food in order to maintain normal breeding behaviour. Predation and decreases habitat limit this species ability to maintain strong population numbers.

Breeding

The mating period lasts for a few weeks in winter, ending with the death of all males. Females give birth to a litter of six to ten young after a gestation period of 27 days. These tiny creatures survive in their mother's pouch for five weeks, before moving into a leaf-lined nest in a low-lying tree hollow. Here they are feed from their mother's milk for a further 3 months. After this time, young males disperse into a new territory, while the females to not move far.

Behaviour

This species is known for its acrobatic skills and great climbing ability. It often has to chase its prey, darting around quickly to secure a meal. This generally occurs at night, as this marsupial is mostly nocturnal. If food is scarce, some foraging may happen during the day. Wintertime food scarcities may cause the species to become dormant. During most of the year, adult Antechinuses nest together in groups of about 20 individuals.

Functional Group

Insectivore

Food Species

The Agile Antechinus prefers large beetles, spiders and cockroaches, while small lizards and soft berries are eaten occasionally.

Predators

Feral cats (Felis catus ), foxes (Vulpes vulpes ) and various owl species are known predators of the Agile Antechinus.

Interesting Fact

The Agile Antechinus was only recognised as a unique species to the Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii) in recent years. The scientific species name 'agilis' was adopted from its nickname Agile Antechinus, due to its swift movements and acrobatic climbing ability.