Antechinus agilis, Dickman et al., 1998

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Dasyuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 232-348 : 309

27.

Agile Antechinus

Antechinus agilis

French: Antéchinus agile / German: Graue BreitfuBbeutelmaus / Spanish: Antequino agil

Other common names: Normanby Antechinus

Taxonomy. Antechinus agilis Dickman et al., 1998 ,

Brindabella Range , on the south side of Warks Road and Blundells Creek Road , near Lees Creek (35° 21° 45” S, 148° 50’ 17” E), 740 m, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

During a study of genetic variation in A. stuartii in 1980, notable differentiation was uncovered between individuals at a single locality on the southern coast of New South Wales. Further surveys showed that a new species, A. agilis , occurred in southern New South Wales and Victoria that was deeply genetically divergent from A. stuartii in mid-eastern and north-eastern New South Wales. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE Australia, in S & SE New South Wales and SE Victoria.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 6-5-12:4 cm (males) and 6.2-12.8 cm (females), tail 6-:3-11.6 cm (males) and 6-10.3 cm (females); weight 20-40 g (males) and 16-25 g (females). There is marked sexual dimorphism for size. Fur of the Agile Antechinusis medium gray to grayish-brown above and paler below. Eyes are prominent, with a ring of paler fur surrounding them. Tail is thin and almost as long as head-body length. The Agile Antechinus can be distinguished from the Brown Antechinus ( A. stuartii ) by an average smaller size, more grayish fur, and several skull characters: on average, larger upper incisor teeth, presence of a lingual cusp on premolar teeth 1-3, and a relatively broader interorbital (between eyes) area of skull.

Habitat. All forest, heathland, and woodland habitats from the coast to an elevation of ¢.2000 m.

Food and Feeding. Invertebrates comprise the majority of the diet of the Agile Antechinus. It shows a preference for large beetles, cockroaches, and spiders, but small skinks and even soft berries are eaten occasionally. Prey is detected by sight and sound and are taken from the ground or on trunks or limbs oftrees; it is often captured after scampering pursuit.

Breeding. Life cycle of the Agile Antechinus, as in all species of antechinuses, is highly synchronized. Mating occupies only two weeks during winter annually; at its end, all males in a population die. Ovulation is initiated by social contact and occurs about the same time as the male deaths. An internal clock sets approximate time of breeding in any given population;it usually occurs when daylength increases at a rate of 127-137 seconds/day. Number of teats varies with locality; females with six teats are found in the wettest areas, whereas those with ten teats are in the driest and highest localities. After c.27 days of gestation, females give birth and carry 6-10 young in the pouch for c.b weeks, after which young are left in a leaf-lined nest. Typically, the nest is aboveground in a tree hollow. Young are weaned at ¢.3 months of age.

Activity patterns. Agile Antechinuses are mostly active at night, but they will forage during the day if food is scarce. They may enter torpor in response to food shortages, particularly during winter.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Male Agile Antechinuses forage over c.] ha, an area almost three times the size of that for females; however, both sexes use a much larger range for social interactions. During aggressive encounters, adults utter strong “siss” cries, whereas nestlings utter weak siss cries. When lactating, females utter soft chit cries when near their young.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Numbers of Agile Antechinuses have been reduced by a variety of anthropogenic processes. These include forest clearing; planting of exotic pines, which reduces number of hollows in logs and trees and reduces invertebrate prey diversity; harvesting operations; and controlled burning. In one study, abundance was 2-3times higher in continuous than in fragmented Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) forest, suggesting that this apparently common and secure small mammal species could be declining in fragmented and degraded habitat. Despite this, the Agile Antechinus appears to be abundant across much of its distribution. Predation by domestic and feral cats, Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), and various owl species is common, but there is no indication that the Agile Antechinus should be considered a conservation concern.

Bibliography. Banks et al. (2005), Dickman (1986, 2008a), Dickman et al. (1998).

Figures

On following pages: 2. Crest-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda); 3. Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei); 4. Kaluta (Dasykaluta rosamondae); 5. Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis); 6. Woolley's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis leucura); 7. Miller's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis melas); 8. Wallace's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis wallacii); 9. Tate's Three-striped Dasyure (Myoictis wavicus); 10. Sandstone Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus bilarni); 11. Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis); 12. Carpentarian Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus mimulus); 13. Ningbing Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus ningbing); 14. Rory’s Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus roryi); 15. Woolley's Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus woolleyae); 16. Speckled Dasyure (Neophascogale lorentzii); 17. Red-bellied Phascogale (Phascolosorex doriae); 18. Narrow-striped Dasyure (Phascolosorex dorsalis).

Distribution. SE Australia, in S & SE New South Wales and SE Victoria.