A small carnivorous marsupial of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania whose males die en masse every year after a single, extremely intense mating period, a phenomenon unusual among mammals known as “reproductive suicide”.
Small, with fur ranging from dark grey to almost black, paler below. Males are notably larger than females, and can reach twice their weight.
Digs in the ground in search of invertebrates, leaving small patches of disturbed earth and leaf litter. It builds leaf nests in shallow burrows where the female rears her young.
Wet sclerophyll forest and tropical forest of south-eastern Australia (from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia, through Victoria and New South Wales) and Tasmania; also in tall grassland with dense understorey.
Carnivorous; hunts invertebrates on the ground, occasionally including small lizards.
Males die after a single, brief annual mating period in August-September, a phenomenon of “reproductive suicide” unusual among mammals. Females build shallow burrows where they rear their young.
Widely distributed species rated Least Concern, with no major threats identified, although locally affected by controlled burning and the replacement of native forest by pine plantations.
Controlled burning of the understorey, replacement of native forest by pine plantations, and predation by feral cats and foxes in some populations.
See all species accounts for carnivorous marsupials · Full species index
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