Out my window this morning - an antechinus
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382273)
Rockingham, Australia
January 24, 2019 7:10pm CST
When I’m sitting at my computer, I see some very interesting things out my window. The birdbath is in full view and birds, kangaroos and skinks often come for a drink. But today I had a new visitor. A little mouse-like creature was climbing up the flywire and running along the windowsill.
It turned out to be an antechinus. These are small, carnivorous marsupials with a long, pointed snout and large thin ears. I researched the antechinus and found out that the males only live long enough to breed once. They suppress the autoimmune system trading off long-term survival for short-term breeding success. Some species copulate for twelve hours!
The other interesting thing is that females can store sperm in the ovary and do not ovulate till the end of the breeding season. The size of the litter is determined by the number of teats in the pouch. Most females die too after the first litter is weaned. Isn’t Mother Nature a marvel?
19 people like this
18 responses
@snowy22315 (209009)
• United States
25 Jan 19
That is a cute little critter. I was recently looking at some videos of sloths. They are winning too.
2 people like this
@ThreeTeddies (2038)
• United Kingdom
25 Jan 19
Males only live long enough to breed once? Females die after the first litter? Mother Nature is a vicious b***h!
2 people like this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
26 Jan 19
I believe you wrote a post about them before as I recall the breeding process. If it wasn't you it was someone else. I think it was a post series you did about animals that live in your area maybe?
It definitely looks like a mouse like we have here but bigger.
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
25 Jan 19
I had no clue this antechinus existed. What a curious living being! I wonder are they wild? I mean if you're near them are they coming to bite you?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382273)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jan 19
@jvicentevalera We have a lot of animals that aren't found in other places. But then I guess Venezuela does too.
1 person likes this
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
26 Jan 19
@JudyEv Oh I see, i mean I thought they were sort of wild, or something. In fact I just found out they exist, in fact I looked them up and they are majorly found in Australia.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
25 Jan 19
It has choices and yet prefers short life enjoying what it does We should all be that way. Enjoy life and not bother about long life What say?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
26 Jan 19
@JudyEv Too late to die young and may be also too late to do what that animal did to die young
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Jan 19
I guess they make the whoopee count!
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
25 Jan 19
Interesting science fact you shared :)
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45155)
• Philippines
25 Jan 19
I haven't known antechinus not until you posted your discussion. I never knew there is a living thing who store the sperm until the designated time.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382273)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 19
And female kangaroos can stop the foetus developing until conditions are good.
@renicemae (4883)
• Philippines
25 Jan 19
So it still belong to the mouse family?
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
25 Jan 19
Looks like a rat to me. But yes that is interesting.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382273)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 19
I thought it was just an 'ordinary' mouse but something wasn't quite right.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
25 Jan 19
It is wonderful; mother nature works best for these animals to continue with their life span; or to propagate.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382273)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 19
Every species has its interesting points I think.
