Fawn antechinus
Fawn antechinus[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Dasyuromorphia |
Family: | Dasyuridae |
Genus: | Antechinus |
Species: | A. bellus
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Binomial name | |
Antechinus bellus (Thomas, 1904)
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Distribution of the fawn antechinus |
The fawn antechinus (Antechinus bellus) is a species of small carnivorous marsupial found in northern Australia. It is the only Antechinus to be found in the Northern Territory and has a patchy, restricted range.
Taxonomy
The earliest scientific collection of a fawn antechinus was made by
It is a member of the family Dasyuridae and of the genus Antechinus (meaning "hedgehog-equivalent"), which has nine other members.
Description
The fawn antechinus is unique among antechinuses, being considerably paler than many of its relatives. It is a light grey colour and is distinguished from the only other similar species in the area where it lives (the
The fawn antechinus has a breeding season during August. Young are born in September–October in litters of up to ten, and are usually weaned by January.[5]
Distribution and habitat
The fawn antechinus is found in the Top End of the Northern Territory, where it was once fairly common.[4] It inhabits tall, fairly open forest in the tropics. Populations have declined substantially since European colonisation, with one study in the Northern Territory finding a 20% reduction in the extent of occurrence of and a 45% reduction in the breadth of occupied environmental space.[6]
In Aboriginal language and culture
The Kunwinjku people of western Arnhem Land call this animal mulbbu, as they do many small marsupials and rodents.[7][8][9]
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ "IUCN World Conservation congress, 2016". Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- PMID 23459668.
- ^ a b Calaby, J.H. (1995). "Fawn Antechinus". In Strahan, Ronald (ed.). The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 85–86.
- ^ a b Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 54.
- ISSN 1366-9516.
- ^ Garde, Murray. "mulbbu". Bininj Kunwok Online Dictionary. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ISBN 1862543062.
- ^ "Various Rock Dwelling Dasyurids". Bininj Kunwok Names for Plants and Animals. Bininj Kunwok Language Project. Retrieved 31 October 2021.