Dusky antechinus
Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmaus ( Antechinus swainsonii ) (male )
The Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmaus ( Antechinus swainsonii ) is a marsupial from the family of Dasyuridae ( Dasyuridae ). It is a bottom dweller in heath and forest landscapes of Tasmania and the east coast of Australia. Typical of all species of this genus is the death of all males shortly after mating.
Features
Like all Breitfuß bag mice is similar to this type by their body shape, the long snout with real teeth and small eyes and ears very domestic in Europe shrews. Other features of this kind are the soft, on the back of a deep, dark brown coat and the relatively large, curved claws. Furthermore, the Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmaus can produce a wide range of sounds, especially fighting males can stand out " screaming " by loud. Adult male Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmäuse reach at a head-body length of 103-188 mm and a tail length of 80-121 mm, a weight of 43-178 grams, while females with a head-body length of 89-140 mm, a tail length of 75 to 100 millimeters and weighing 37-100 grams are smaller.
Dissemination
This type is found only in Tasmania ( A. s swainsonii ) and on the east coast of Australia ( A. s mimetes ).
Habitat
The Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmaus despite the ability to climb a bottom dweller in heathland and high, open forests with dense undergrowth of bushes and ferns. The highest population density is found in the mountains ( eg: Kosciuszko National Park and Brindabella Ranges), where is the average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm.
Foraging
This type hunts both during the day and at night after ground-dwelling insects, but the food is supplemented by berries. The Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmaus hunts mainly by smell ( olfactory ) and less by sight or hearing, with the strong front legs are used with long claws for digging. The prey is held for " biting off " between the front paws, water is leaking with the short tongue. Both females and males show while eating very jerky movements, which is a sign of vigilance.
Reproduction
The females lay during the Australian winter nests on the banks of watercourses, or eg under lying on the ground on the trunks. A usually less than 1 meter long corridor leads to a single chamber, which measures approximately 10 inches in diameter and is padded with some grass and leaves. Sometimes these nests are also applied to transitions from bush rats. As with all Breitfuß Bag mice, the pairing between all individuals is synchronized. She is fierce and usually you go no advance advertising behavior: The males bite the neck fur of the females and beat with his front paws on the chest before copulation occurs. This may last up to 6 hours. 3 weeks after mating die all males. About a month after mating are born 6 to 8 pups that are worn for a further 8 weeks in the abdominal site. After this time, the pups are placed in the nest, which they leave at the age of about three months.
The special process of mating, fertilization of the female and death of the males is explained in detail in the article Breitfuß Bag mice.
Endangering
The IUCN lists the Chestnut- Breitfußbeutelmaus as Least Concern (not endangered).
Swell
- Dickman, CR in: Strahan, R. 1991 The complete book of Australian mammals ISBN 0207144540 (page 46f )