The fat-tailed false antechinus, also called the fat-tailed pseudantechinus and red-eared antechinus, is a member of the orderDasyuromorphia. It is an inhabitant of western and central Australia.
Taxonomy
Scientific name: Pseudantechinus macdonellensis Common name: Fat-tailed-antechinus, fat-tailed pseudantechinus It was first described in 1896 by Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer, who placed it in the genus Phascogale. It was for a long time included in the genus Antechinus. The species has formerly included the Alexandria false antechinus, the Ningbing false antechinus, and Woolley's false antechinus. The P. macdonellensis is commonly found in the rocky environments of Central Australia.
General facts
A P. macdonellensis is a medium-sized dasyurid marsupial that ranges from 18-33 grams, and has a life span of about seven years. It is presumed to have a large population, and generally lives within the confines of protected areas. Therefore, it is unlikely to decline at the rate needed to be listed as an endangered species. The fat-tailed false antechinus is a member of the family Dasyuridae. Its species name, macdonnellensis, refers to the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, where it was first discovered.
Description
The fat-tailed false antechinus is 9.5-10.5 cm long with a 7.5-8.5 cm tail; it weighs 20-45g. It has a carrot-shaped tail swollen with fat which serves as a food reserve. Its fur is grey-brown. It has litters of up to six young, born in July–September. It is an insectivorous and nocturnal species.
Habitat
The P. macdonellensis is commonly found in the rocky environments of Central Australia. In addition it is found throughout South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. An outlying population in more coastal areas of Western Australia has been reclassified as a new species, Rory Cooper's false antechinus. The species inhabits rocky slopes and plains.
Diet
The P. macdonellensis is generally an insectivore whose diet consists of beetles, grasshoppers, and termites. A characteristic specific to this kind of species is its ability to store fat in its tail when food is plentiful.
Torpor
In the winter most free ranging P. macdonellensis go into a state of torpor after midnight within the confines of rock crevices, and stay there until day breaks. In the morning, while they are still torpid, they move from the rock-crevices to basking sites exposed to the sun. Subsequently, this type of basking continues for the rest of the day. It appears that daily torpor is done in order to reduce the amount of daily expenditure by about 30%, and allows the species to live and reproduce in a challenging environment. It has also been observed that the species goes into a state of torpor in circumstances in which the species finds itself under acute energetic stress.
