Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus

The Fat-tailed Pseudantechinus was first collected in the MacDonnell Ranges, near Alice Springs.
It is found mainly on rocky hills and breakaways, but also lives in termite mounds in some parts of its wide range.

Insects form the main component of its diet and the tail, which is shorter than the body, becomes very fat when food is plentiful.

Although predominantly nocturnal, individuals may emerge from shelter among the rocks to sunbathe and Aborigines take advantage of this habit to catch them.

Breeding occurs in winter and spring but each female produces only a single litter of up to six young in a year.
These are born between late July and early September in Central Australia and in October in the more westerly parts of their range.
In captivity, the interval between mating and parturition is from 45 o 55 days and the young suckle for about 14 weeks.

Sexual maturity is reached in the firs year of life and both sexes may survive to breed in more than one year.
The male has an appendage on the penis, that function of which is not known.

Some degree of site fidelity is displayed, especially by females.

(Text by P.A. Woolley)