Common name: Marsupial mouse
Distribution
Northern and Eastern Australia
Identification
Grayish-brown above and paler below. It has small sharp cat-like teeth. The tail is sparsely haired and is the same length as the body or shorter. The black rat’s tail is twice as long as its body length and is naked. The snout of the Antechinus is much pointier, long, and narrow in comparison to a mouse that has a round head and nose. It has large ears, thin and crinkly with a notch in the margin. It weighs about 71 grams.
Behaviour
The Antechinus is nocturnal, hunting insects, other arthropods, and sometimes reptiles and frogs to prey on. During the day, it can be found in communal nests in tree hollows, logs or crevices on the ground.
Control
The Antechinus lives in forests in fallen timber and tree hollows. It is not a pest but it might find its way indoors during winter, finding a warm place to stay. There are 15 species of Antechinus, two of which are endangered and one is vulnerable. In the event that an Antechinus is seen in a property, contact an expert who is to trap and relocate them.