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AnAge entry for Antechinus minimus


Classification (HAGRID: 02779)
TaxonomyKingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Dasyuromorphia
                Family: Dasyuridae
                    Genus: Antechinus
SpeciesAntechinus minimus
Common nameSwamp antechinus

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevityNot yet established
Observations

In this species, both males and females have been reported to feature Big Bang reproduction. Most, if not all, males die after mating season, in a process similar to what happens in the brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii). Females die after weaning their litter at about 1.5 years of age [0469]. In some cases, they can to live about 2 years [0522]. Because the longevity of these animals has not been studied in detail in captivity, though, it is possible that maximum longevity is longer.

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity345 days
Male sexual maturity
Gestation28 days
Weaning105 days
Litter size7.4 (viviparous)
Litters per year
Inter-litter interval365 days
Weight at birth0.04 g
Weight at weaning
Adult weight42 g
Postnatal growth rate

Metabolism

No information on metabolism available.

References

[0522] Fisher et al. (2001), The ecological basis of life history variation in marsupials
[0469] Diamond (1982), Big-bang reproduction and ageing in male marsupial mice, PubMed

External resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information SystemITIS 552598
Animal Diversity WebADW account (if available)
Encyclopedia of LifeSearch EOL
Genome ProjectSearch NCBI
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