Autecology of a new species of carnivorous marsupial, the endangered black-tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos), compared to a sympatric congener, the brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)

Eight species of dasyurid marsupials have been typed for the electrophoretic mobility of 18 of their enzymes and proteins. The species were the Ningbing antechinus (Pseudantechinus sp.), Pseudantechinus macdonnellensis (formerly Antechinus macdonnellensis), Parantechinus apicalis (formerly Antechinus apicalis), Parantechinus bilarni (formerly Antechinus bilarni), Antechinus stuartii, Dasykaluta rosamondae (formerly Antechinus rosamondae), Dasycercus cristicauda and Planigale maculata. The results show that the Ningbing antechinus is a probable new species. The data suggest that its nearest relative is Dasycercus cristicauda. Analysis of the results by calculation of a modified x2 and an approximation to Nei's genetic distance indicates that all species have been the product of one radiation, possibly in the late Miocene or early Pliocene. Two races of P. macdonnellensis probably exist, separable by their transferrin types.

Download Full-text

Ecology and Status of a New Species of Carnivorous Marsupial, the Black-Tailed Dusky Antechinus (A.Arktos) and its Relationship with a Sympatric Congener, the Brown Antechinus (A. Stuartii)

10.5204/thesis.eprints.112503 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Emma L Gray

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Carnivorous Marsupial ◽

A New Species

Download Full-text

Antechinus agilis (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae), a new species from the A. stuartii complex in south-eastern Australia

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo97036 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

C. R. Dickman ◽

H. E. Parnaby ◽

M. S. Crowther ◽

D. H. King

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Dental Morphology ◽

South Eastern ◽

South Wales ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Antechinus Stuartii ◽

Average Size ◽

A New Species

A new species from the Antechinus stuartii stuartii complex, A. agilis, sp. nov., is described from Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales. It differs from A. stuartii primarily in its smaller average size, lighter and greyer fur colour, relatively smaller anterior and posterior palatal vacuities, and more rounded premolars. The species can be distinguished in the field on external morphology. A. agilis resembles A. stuartii adustus from northern Queensland more closely in skull and dental morphology than it does A. stuartii from central coastal New South Wales, with which it is parapatric and occasionally sympatric in the southern coastal part of the State. Considerable morphological variation is apparent amongst populations regarded previously as A. stuartii from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, suggesting that more than one taxon is included currently under A. stuartii. Further clarification of the relationships of A. agilis requires evaluation of variation in such populations of A. stuartii and also with A. flavipes from northern New South Wales and southern and central Queensland.

Download Full-text