Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)

Other Common Names: Macleay's marsupial mouse, Stuart's antechinus.

Status: Abundant.

Size
Head & body length 95mm, Tail Length 90mm, Weight - Male 60g, Female 28g

Identification
Small, rat-sized mammal with a flattish, broad head, pointed snout and cat-like teeth. The body, head and tail are uniform brown.

Distribution
Found in two distinct subspecies, the northern occuring in northern Queensland and the southern extending from south-east Queensland through to south-east New South Wales.

Habitat
Found in a variety of forest habitats where there is thick ground cover and abundant logs..

Movement
A nocturnal animal except in breeding season that spends most its time on the forrest floor.

Feeding
Eats insects such as beetles, spiders, amphipods and cockroaches.

Breeding/Nesting
Breeding in southern Queensland occurs in September and after a two week mating season no male brown antechinus is left alive.

Photo: Queensland Museum

Source: Brown Antechinus - Mammals of Lamington National Park http://lamington.nrsm.uq.edu.au/Documents/Anim/brownantechinus.htm