Tasmanian Dusky Antechinus

About the Tasmanian Dusky Antechinus

The dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii), also known as Swainson's antechinus or the dusky marsupial mouse, is a species of small marsupial carnivore, a member of the family Dasyuridae. It is found in Australia. The dusky antechinus was described by English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse in 1840, the second antechinus to be described. It was named in honour of the zoologist and artist William Swainson, with the holotype likely being a specimen collected by Swainson's correspondent Thomas Lempriere from the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania.

There are three subspecies: A. s. swainsonii, found in Tasmania; A. s. insulanus, found in the Grampians National Park, Victoria; A. s. mimetes, found from south-eastern Queensland through eastern New South Wales to south-western Victoria. The dusky antechinus is the largest antechinus. The largest and darkest fur Dusky Antechinus occur in higher altitudes. It can be distinguished from its relatives by its much darker fur, which is also apparent in the pale form. It is mostly nocturnal but has suggested to be partly active during the day. It mostly eats invertebrates, although it will occasionally devour small... Wikipedia →