Cinnamon antechinus

The cinnamon antechinus (Antechinus leo), also known as the Iron Ranges antechinus and the Cape York antechinus, is a species of small carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae. It is the only mammal endemic to Cape York Peninsula, being confined to semideciduous forest around the McIlraith and Iron Ranges. Along with the Atherton antechinus (Antechinus godmani), it is the rarest in its genus.[3]

Cinnamon Antechinus[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Dasyuromorphia
Family: Dasyuridae
Genus: Antechinus
Species:
A. leo
Binomial name
Antechinus leo
Van Dyck, 1980
Cinnamon Antechinus range

Taxonomy

The cinnamon antechinus was not scientifically described until 1980. It had previously been confused with both the yellow-footed antechinus (A. flavipes rubeculus) and the Atherton antechinus (A. godmani). A member of the dasyurid family, the species name of the cinnamon antechinus, leo, refers to the lion-like cinnamon colour of its fur.[4]

Description

The cinnamon antechinus is one of the largest of the antechinuses, and is more rufous than its relatives. It is nocturnal and arboreal, and feeds on various invertebrates. Like all antechinuses, the males die following the breeding season.[3]

The cinnamon antechinus, as its name implies, has mostly cinnamon-coloured fur, although it does have a darker mid-head stripe.[4] Its mating season is in September.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The cinnamon antechinus has a very restricted range, being completely confined to a small area on Cape York Peninsula, where it inhabits semideciduous rainforest. Despite being locally common, it was once classed as near threatened by the IUCN due to the limits of its distribution.

References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 29. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Burnett, S.; Winter, J. (2016). "Antechinus leo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T1584A21946093. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T1584A21946093.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 0-19-550870-X.
  4. Leung, L.K-P. (1995). "Cinnamon Antechinus". In Strahan, Ronald (ed.). The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books. pp. 91–92.
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