Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum

Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Didelphimorphia
Family:	Didelphidae
Genus:	Thylamys
Species:	T. cinderella
Binomial name
Thylamys cinderella Thomas, 1902
Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum range

The Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum (Thylamys cinderella) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. ^[2] It is found in northern Argentina and southern Bolivia, in the eastern foothills of the Andes. ^[1] Its dorsal fur is gray brown to dark brown. Its ventral fur is gray-based, except for the white to yellowish chest hairs.

Argentine fat-tailed mouse opossum

The Argentine fat-tailed mouse opossum (Thylamys sponsorius) was formerly considered a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. ^[3] However, mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis does not support separate species status from T. cinderella. ^{[1] [4]}

It is found in the eastern foothills of the Andes in northern Argentina and southern Bolivia. ^[5] Typically reach around 10-13 cm (4-5 inches) in body length, with a bushy tail adding another 12-15 cm (5-6 inches). Its dorsal fur is gray brown to dark brown. Its ventral fur is gray-based except for the white to yellowish chest hairs. It has been distinguished from T. cinderella by its well-developed postorbital ridges in both juveniles and adults that extend laterally behind the eye sockets. ^[6] Only adults of T. sponsorius have fully developed postorbital ridges, and these do not extend laterally behind the eye sockets. ^[6] While the American Society of Mammalogists maintains this as a distinct species, ^[7] mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis does not support the population being distinct from T. cinderella. ^{[8] [4]}

References

1. Flores, D. (2016). "Thylamys cinderella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T51343307A22173237. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T51343307A22173237.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Gardner, A.L. (2005). "Order Didelphimorphia". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 17. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
3. Gardner, A.L. (2005). "Order Didelphimorphia". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 18. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
4. Braun, J.K.; et al. (2005). "Phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships of mouse opossums Thylamys (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) in southern South America". Journal of Mammalogy. 86 (1): 147–159. doi: 10.1644/1545-1542(2005)086<0147:PABROM>2.0.CO;2 .
5. Diaz M. & Barquez, R. (2008). "Thylamys sponsorius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Archived from the original on 2016-07-08. Retrieved 20 March 2009.{{cite iucn}}: old-form url (help)
6. Gardner, Alfred L. (2008). Mammals of South America: Marsupials, xenarthrans, shrews, and bats. University of Chicago Press. p. 669. ISBN   978-0-226-28240-4.
7. "Thylamys sponsorius (O. Thomas, 1921)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists.
8. Flores, D. (2016). "Thylamys cinderella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T51343307A22173237. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T51343307A22173237.en . Retrieved 26 December 2019.