Ecology of Australian tropical rainforest mammals. I. The Cape York antechinus, Antechinus leo (Dasyuridae : Marsupialia)

Abstract

This is the first detailed ecological study of the Cape York antechinus, Antechinus leo, a small marsupial endemic to rainforest on the Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia. A total of 181 animals was captured 725 times at Iron Range during a capture–mark–recapture study from 1989 to 1991. A. leo is crepuscular–nocturnal, insectivorous, semi-arboreal and nests in hollows. Its life-history strategy is typical of the genus, including the synchrony of reproductive events and the post-mating death of all males. The estimated annual mating season is from mid-September to mid-October. Young were born around 1 November ( 12 days), and were carried in the pouch until early to mid December. Juveniles became trappable around mid February. Daughters stayed in their mother’s home range, while sons dispersed soon after they left the nest. Lactation, weaning and dispersal of young were timed to coincide with the wet season when the abundance of invertebrates increased, suggesting that populations are limited by food supply.