WHILE tree surgeons at Potoroo Palace were removing a half fallen tree, they were surprised to discover six very young mouse-like creatures that scattered in all different directions.
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They were subsequently captured and offered up to the keepers to feed the snakes with.
But instead, after seeing they were in fact antechinus – a small native marsupial - the keepers cared for and saved them.
Very young antechinus are particularly difficult to hand rear due to an under-slung jaw.
Unlike baby pygmy possums and feathertail gliders, who can be fed early on with a dropper, baby antechinus will get milk in all directions and have to be bathed afterwards every time.
It proved to be a bit of a struggle and they were in need of feeding every three hours day and night at one stage.
Two of the litter survived and have grown up very strong and healthy due to the committed and vigilant care of one of Potoroo Palace’s staff.
There are two kinds of antechinus in this area - the dusky (antechinus swainsonii) and the agile (antechinus agilis).
The agile are a newly discovered variant who were previously thought to be brown (antechinus stuartii), but are distinguished by their relatively small size, grey body fur, certain skull characteristics and distinctive tissue proteins.
They are just one of several species from the family of dasyurids which also includes the more commonly known Tasmanian devils, quolls, phascogales and numbats.
There are many lesser-known species that belong to this family too, and at least eight known types of antechinus within Australia.
It used to be thought that the agile antechinus was carnivorous, eating mainly cockroaches and spiders but it is now known that they are particularly good pollinators especially of banksias and callistemons and considered even better at this than the honeyeater birds.
Potoroo Palace native animal sanctuary is located on the Princes Hwy between Bega and Merimbula: www.potoroopalace.com