Antechinus mimetes mimetes
19 Dusky Antechinus at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Identify this sighting
| Antechinus mimetes mimetes | DonFletcher | 8 Jul 2024 | |
| Antechinus mimetes mimetes | LilyW | 27 Jun 2024 | |
| Antechinus agilis | rawshorty | 28 Apr 2024 |
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15 comments
28 Apr 2024
Just awesome photography and animal not held in an aquarium or similar. Congratulations @rawshorty
28 Apr 2024
Thanks @DonFletcher. I got very lucky, only had poor views for a while and then it climbed up the trunk and posed for me for a few minutes.
27 Jun 2024
Amazing photos! I'm pretty confident this is actually a dusky antechinus rather than an agile. Dusky antechinus are bigger than agiles, which this one matches and its nose is also longer than I would expect for an agile.
27 Jun 2024
The size of the body compared to the head, agile antechinus are generally more streamlined, dusky antechinus look more chubby
27 Jun 2024
Hi @LilyW (and cc @rawshorty), It has a faint suggestion of an eye ring, is pale grizzled grey above (rather than brown) and has a paler underside than the A. mimetes I'm used to seeing photographed. I don't think the nose is as long as many A. mimetes.
We can refer it to other moderators for a second opinion @WillO, @LiamM, @ChrisM, @BelindaWilson
We can refer it to other moderators for a second opinion @WillO, @LiamM, @ChrisM, @BelindaWilson
28 Jun 2024
Given the grey fur and more pointed face with relatively large ears, I think A. agilis. While A. mimetes are often more 'robust' in shape, there is a good chance this animal has had access to artificially increased foraging opportunities in Tidbinbilla Sanctuary!
3 Jul 2024
Yes really great photos - well done. Those very long front foot "finger" nails are suggestive of Dusky Antechinus (mimetes - prev. swainsonii)- uses the nails to rake through leaf litter and soil surface. But it might just be the close up photo making the nails look longer than in agile antechinus. Also not a particularly dusky-coloured fur on this individual. I have forwarded the photos to Linda Broome and Ken green to see what they think. Hopefully one of them will reply.
8 Jul 2024
Hello again. Linda Broome got back to me and is reasonably confident this photo shows an A. mimetes. She emailed me several photos of A. mimetes and A. agilis. Here is part of Linda's reply: "I'm voting for Antechinus mimetes. I had a good think about it and looked at hand held photos I took recently when we were trapping along McLeods trail in northern KNP. A mimetes - longer thicker claws, more robust, darker colour; both have eye rings".
8 Jul 2024
@WillO Many thanks for going to that trouble. I need to revise my thinking - less emphasis on fur colour and eye ring, more emphasis on claw length. (Actually I thought the claws were short like agilis, but clearly they're not).
Location information
- Coordinates 148.906804-35.463316
- Maps Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
- Places Paddys River, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 28 Apr 2024 10:44 AM Recorded on
- rawshorty Recorded by
- Alive / healthy Animal health
Collections
- Featured rawshorty Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Antechinus mimetes mimetes Antechinuses Small Marsupials Mammals
Species information
- Antechinus mimetes mimetes Scientific name
- Dusky Antechinus Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1771.31m Recorded at altitude
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Synonyms
Antechinus swainsonii
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Additional attributes
- GPS evidence of location
- Description