Antechinus

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Antechinus stuartii

The Breitfuß Bag mice ( Antechinus ) is a marsupial genus of the family of Dasyuridae ( Dasyuridae ). The 13 species of this genus live in eastern Australia.

Description

Breitfuß Bag mice are similar to shrews in physique, but are marsupials. Their fur is short and rough, its color varies from light pink at the top and gray to dark brown, the underside is lighter. The tail is as long as the body is provided along the entire length with short hair. Named giving feature is the wide feet with large bales on the soles of the feet, which are particularly pronounced for tree-dwelling species. These animals can reach a body length 8-17 centimeters and a weight of 30 to 90 grams, with males are usually larger and heavier than the females.

Dissemination and lifestyle

Breitfuß Bag mice are widespread in many parts of the eastern and south-eastern Australia, where they inhabit a variety of habitats, including forests, savannah and bush country. There are nocturnal, shy animals that are characterized by frantic movements. Some species live in trees and are adapted by long claws on this way of life, others are predominantly found on the floor. They spend the day in nests that they build on trees, in hollow logs or rock crevices, sometimes they also use empty bird nests. They usually live a maverick life, only in the winter, sometimes several animals found during the day in large communal nests.

These animals are insectivores, in addition to insects but can also feed on worms, snails, and small vertebrates.

Reproduction

The mating behavior of Breitfuß Bag mice have some special features. Although it is very small mammals, there is merely a single reproductive period per year. This is synchronous in all animals within two weeks in August (Australian winter) instead. At the beginning of this period, the male Breitfuß Bag mice gather in nests. These nests are then visited by the females that mate with multiple males. Since the females can store sperm in the fallopian tube, a single throw of several fathers can come. Immediately after the mating season, males all die, so that the populations exist in the following spring solely from pregnant females. After a 28-day gestation, all females give birth to their young in sync. These are then worn for another five to seven weeks in the abdominal crease, a rudiment of the bag. After this time the young are deposited in the nest, but still nursed. After another eight to ten weeks, the male offspring is expelled from the nest. From the dams survive only 15 % to a second litter, this is then but smaller than the first.

The general, synchronous death of males is triggered by stress directly before and during mating. In response to the sustained stress of Kortikoidspiegel increases. This is normally regulated by corticoid globulins. During the mating season but also of androgen is increased, thereby reducing the level of kortikoidbindenden globulins, resulting in an increase of biologically active, free corticosteroids (stress hormones). These in turn have an immunosuppressive effect. By the absence of inflammatory responses and a reduced formation of antibodies leads to a collapse of the immune system, and subsequently death from pathogens.

Threat

In general Breitfuß Bag mice are exposed to special threat to humans, however, the enactment by introduced domestic cats in some places a problem dar. Mostly the species that inhabit the rainforests in northern Queensland, are threatened by the destruction of their habitat.

The types

• Antechinus adustus is native to the rainforests of Queensland.
• Antechinus agilis was first described scientifically in 1998 and lives in southeastern Australia.
• Antechinus argentus is known only from the Kroombit - Tops National Park and has been described only in December 2013.
• Antechinus arktos was discovered in the area of the Tweed Volcano and described in February 2014.
• Antechinus bellus is a resident of savannas in the Northern Territory.
• The Yellow-footed bag mouse ( Antechinus flavipes ) is common in many parts of eastern and southern Australia.
• Antechinus godmani inhabited rain forests on the Cape York Peninsula.
• Antechinus leo is also home to the Cape York Peninsula.
• Antechinus minimus inhabits grasslands and wetlands in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.
• Antechinus mysticus comes close to the coast in front of the border between Queensland and New South Wales to Mackay.
• The Stuart - Breitfußbeutelmaus ( Antechinus stuartii ) is native to forests and bush countries in the eastern and south-eastern Australia
• Antechinus subtropicus was first described scientifically in 2000 and is widespread in eastern Australia.
• Antechinus swainsonii lives in southeastern Australia and Tasmania. Their habitat are forests, but the species is a bottom dweller.

Several species from New Guinea, which were also formerly attributed to the Breitfuß Bag mice are now in separate genera ( Micromurexia, Murexechinus and Phascomurexia ) listed.