SPECIES: Antechinus argentus — Silver-headed Antechinus
CLASSIFICATION: Endangered
How adorable is this little one! The Silver-headed Antechinus is actually quite a recently recorded marsupial. It is the third species of Antechinus to be documented, previously thought to be only two.
It's listed as endangered on the EPBC List and what is a big factor in it's demise is, well, itself. The males have an oversupply of testosterone, and actuallly die at the end of the mating season because of overload on their small bodies. The average lifespan of a male is not quite 12 months, in comparison, a female can live about two years. It is currently known from only three locations in Queensland. Other threats to the Silver-headed Antechinus include predation, fire and habitat destruction.
