Fat-tailed false antechinus

The fat-tailed false antechinus (Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis), also called the fat-tailed pseudantechinus and red-eared antechinus, is a member of the order Dasyuromorphia. It is an inhabitant of western and central Australia.

Fat-tailed false antechinus[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Pseudantechinus
Species:
P. macdonnellensis
Binomial name
Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis
(Spencer, 1896)
Fat-tailed false antechinus range

Taxonomy

Scientific name: Pseudantechinus macdonellensis. Common name: Fat-tailed-antechinus, fat-tailed pseudantechinus.[3]

It was first described in 1896 by Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer, who placed it in the genus Phascogale. It was for a long time included in the genus Antechinus.[4] The species has formerly included the Alexandria false antechinus (P. mimulus), the Ningbing false antechinus (P. ningbing), and Woolley's false antechinus (P. woolleyae).

The P. macdonellensis is commonly found in the rocky environments of Central Australia.[5]

General facts

A P. macdonellensis is a medium-sized dasyurid marsupial that ranges from 18-33 grams, and has a life span of about seven years.[5] It is presumed to have a large population, and generally lives within the confines of protected areas. Therefore, it is unlikely to decline at the rate needed to be listed as an endangered species.[3]

The fat-tailed false antechinus is a member of the family Dasyuridae. Its species name, macdonnellensis, refers to the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, where it was first discovered.

Description

The fat-tailed false antechinus is 9.5-10.5 cm long with a 7.5-8.5 cm tail; it weighs 20-45g. It has a carrot-shaped tail swollen with fat which serves as a food reserve. Its fur is grey-brown. It has litters of up to six young, born in July–September (slightly later further west in the range).[6] It is an insectivorous and nocturnal species.

Habitat

The P. macdonellensis is commonly found in the rocky environments of Central Australia.[5] In addition it is found throughout South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. An outlying population in more coastal areas of Western Australia has been reclassified as a new species, Rory Cooper's false antechinus (P. roryi). The species inhabits rocky slopes and plains.

Diet

The P. macdonellensis is generally an insectivore whose diet consists of beetles, grasshoppers, and termites. A characteristic specific to this kind of species is its ability to store fat in its tail when food is plentiful.[7]

Torpor

In the winter most free ranging P. macdonellensis go into a state of torpor after midnight within the confines of rock crevices, and stay there until day breaks. In the morning, while they are still torpid, they move from the rock-crevices to basking sites exposed to the sun. Subsequently, this type of basking continues for the rest of the day. It appears that daily torpor is done in order to reduce the amount of daily expenditure by about 30%, and allows the species to live and reproduce in a challenging environment.[8] It has also been observed that the species goes into a state of torpor in circumstances in which the species finds itself under acute energetic stress.[9]

Gestation

Males and females of the subdivision P. macdonellensis reach sexual maturity at about 350 days of age. A single gestation period takes about 43 days in the females, and produces a single litter of about six. The interval in between gestation periods is about 365 days.[10]

References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 27. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Woinarski, J.; Burbidge, A.; van Weene, J. & Dickman, C. (2008). "Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  3. "Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis (Fat-tailed Antechinus, Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  4. Woolley, P.A. (1995). "Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus". In Strahan, Ronald (ed.). The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 76–77.
  5. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=AM05227.pdf
  6. Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 60.
  7. "Fat-tailed False Antechinus (Pseudantechinus macdonnelliensis)".
  8. Geiser, Fritz; Pavey, Chris R. (2007). "Basking and torpor in a rock-dwelling desert marsupial: survival strategies in a resource-poor environment". Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 177 (8): 885–892. doi:10.1007/s00360-007-0186-z. PMID 17674010. S2CID 22794975.
  9. Körtner, G; Geiser, F (2009). "The key to winter survival: daily torpor in a small arid-zone marsupial". Naturwissenschaften. 96 (4): 525–530. doi:10.1007/s00114-008-0492-7. PMID 19082573. S2CID 3093539.
  10. "Fat-tailed pseudantechinus | Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis facts".
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