Animal Species:Brown Antechinus

Northern Brown Antechinus
G Little © Australian Museum

Alternative Name/s

Marsupial Mouse

Identification

The Brown Antechinus can be distinguished by the following characteristics:

• Front teeth Four pairs of small sharp incisors.
• Head Long pointed head with bulging eyes.
• Ears Large thin crinkly ears, with a notch in the margin.
• Colouring Greyish brown above, paler below.
• Tail Sparsely haired tail, same length as body or shorter, at 65 mm - 110 mm long.
• Body weight 17-71 g.

Size range

Body: 70 mm - 140 mm

Similar Species

Sometimes mistaken for House Mouse.

Distribution

There are two subspecies of Brown Antechinus: the northern and the southern. The northern subspecies is found in northern coastal Queensland, while the southern subspecies is found from southern Queensland through to southern New South Wales.

Habitat

The Brown Antechinus prefers forest habitats, sheltering in spherical nests in hollow log or crevice. They are sometimes found in furniture in bush areas or farms but are not found often in urban areas.

Classification

Species:

stuartii

Genus:

Antechinus

Family:

Dasyuridae

Order:

Dasyuromorphia

Subclass:

Marsupialia

Class:

Mammalia

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

Ondine Evans , Web Researcher/Editor
Last Updated: 28 November 2012

Tags antechinus, dasyurids, carnivorous, marsupials, mammals, vertebrates, identification,