Sepia short-tailed opossum

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Sepia short-tailed opossum [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Genus: Monodelphis
Species:
M. adusta
Binomial name
Monodelphis adusta
(Thomas, 1897)
Sepia Short-tailed Opossum area.png
Sepia short-tailed opossum range

The sepia short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis adusta) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. [2]

Contents

Description

The species has dark brown fur and is distinct from other members of its genus by having no streaks on its trunk.[ citation needed ]

Taxonomic notes

The Peruvian short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis peruviana; Osgood, 1913) was at one point included under this species. [3]

Ecology

Its habitat consists of different types of forests up to 2200 meters above sea level, as well as grasslands. These areas have about 5 m annual rainfall, so they find ways to remain above the water. The opossum hunts invertebrates on the ground, but remains of beetles and small frogs have also been seen. They are nocturnal and live in tree holes. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opossum</span> Family of mammals

Opossums are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 126 species in 18 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of North and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum or short-furred woolly mouse opossum is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Its range includes Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It is found in tropical rainforest in the westernmost portion of the Amazon Basin and the eastern foothills of the Andes, at elevations up to 1634 m. It was formerly assigned to the genus Micoureus, which was made a subgenus of Marmosa in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushy-tailed opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The bushy-tailed opossum is an opossum from South America. It was first described by English zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1912. It is a medium-sized opossum characterized by a large, oval, dark ears, fawn to cinnamon coat with a buff to gray underside, grayish limbs, and a furry tail. Little is known of the behavior of the bushy-tailed opossum; less than 25 specimens are known. It appears to be arboreal (tree-living), nocturnal and solitary. The diet probably comprises insects, eggs and plant material. This opossum has been captured from heavy, humid, tropical forests; it has been reported from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The IUCN classifies it as least concern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-shouldered opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The black-shouldered opossum, also known as the white-eared opossum, is an opossum known from western Brazil and southeastern Peru. It was first described by Colin Campbell Sanborn, curator of Field Museum of Natural History, in 1951. The black-shouldered opossum is characterized by a gray coat, gray underbelly, and broad black stripes that extend from the forefeet, meet on the shoulders, run along the midline of the back and then split into parallel stripes that run down the hind feet. Little is known of the behavior of the black-shouldered opossum. It is nocturnal and arboreal. It is known to feed on fruits and rodents. The opossum inhabits humid forests. The IUCN classifies it as least concern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short-tailed opossum</span> Genus of mammals

Monodelphis is a genus of marsupials in the family Didelphidae, commonly referred to as short-tailed opossums. They are found throughout South America. As of January 2019, the most recently described species is M. vossi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-sided opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The yellow-sided opossum is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. They have grey or black fur on their dorsal side with yellowish fur on the lateral side that continues down to the feet. They are the most mysterious of all the Monodelphis that is found specifically in the Pampean region or Pampa of Argentina. It is suspected to be a once-in-a-lifetime breeder as seen in a three-year observational study of one population in the marshy grasslands of the Pampean region. Maintaining their native grasslands is important for them to keep a stable population. They show sexual dimorphism in overall size: adult males are typically 100-150 g whereas adult females are 30-70 g.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy short-tailed opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The pygmy short-tailed opossum, scientifically named Monodelphis kunsi, is an opossum species from South America. M. kunsi is a marsupial from the family Didelphidae of the order Didelphimorphia. Although it is a marsupial, it lacks the characteristic pouch that is often associated with this order. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. M. kunsi is considered a smaller species within the family Didelphidae, which is why it is named a pygmy opossum. The young are referred to as 'joeys'. The females are referred to as 'Jill,' and the males 'jack'. It was thought to have been endangered in 2001, but has since been moved to least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavy-browed mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The heavy-browed mouse opossum, or Anderson's mouse opossum, is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is endemic to a restricted range in southern Peru. This opossum inhabits forests; it is nocturnal and probably arboreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osgood's short-tailed opossum</span> Species of marsupial

Osgood's short-tailed opossum is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss. The opossum is named after American zoologist W. H. Osgood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum, also known as the Chilean mouse opossum, is an opossum from central Chile. The type species of Thylamys, it was first described by English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse in 1839. This medium-sized opossum is characterized by black rings around the eyes, white limbs, gray to light brown coat, lighter flanks and underbelly and a thick 12.7–14.6 centimetres (5.0–5.7 in) long tail covered with hairs. It is crepuscular and lives in nests in tree hollows or under rocks and roots. This opossum feeds mainly on arthropods and larvae apart from fruits. Litter size is typically between 11 and 13. The elegant fat-tailed opossum can occur in a variety of habitats – from cloud forests to chaparrals. The IUCN classifies the opossum as least concern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The white-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common fat-tailed mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The common fat-tailed mouse opossum is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay in chaco and Andean foothill habitats. Its head-and-body length is about 75 to 120 mm, and its tail length is about 90 to 134 mm. Its dorsal fur is brownish gray, and its ventral fur is yellowish to white. The legs and cheeks are the same color as the ventral surface. Its tail is sharply bicolored. A ring of faintly darker fur surrounds each eye. Its tail often lacks fat deposits, but does not always.

<i>Gracilinanus</i> Genus of marsupials

Gracilinanus is a genus of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It was separated from the genus Marmosa in 1989, and has since had the genera Cryptonanus, Chacodelphys, and Hyladelphys removed from it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum</span> Species of marsupial

Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae, named after American zoologist George Henry Hamilton Tate. It is found at elevations of 300 to 3,000 m along the coast of central Peru. The species has the northernmost range of any member of its genus. It has white ventral fur and short condylobasal and zygomatic lengths. T. pallidior is very similar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazonian red-sided opossum</span> Species of marsupial

The Amazonian red-sided opossum is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae, formerly viewed as part of M. brevicaudata. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, where it inhabits the Amazon rainforest. It is omnivorous, nocturnal, and primarily nonarboreal.

The Peruvian short-tailed opossum is a species of marsupial in the family Didelphidae.It is found in Bolivia and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald's opossum</span> Species of marsupial

Ronald's opossum is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae. It was discovered in 2004, and most closely resembles M. adusta. It is known only from Manú National Park, Peru, where it inhabits the Amazon rainforest. It is named after American zoologist Ronald H. Pine.

Gardner's short-tailed opossum is a marsupial mammal from South America. It was named in 2012 by Sergio Solari, Víctor Pacheco, Elena Vivar and Louise H. Emmons. They named it after Dr. Alfred L. Gardner who took the first specimen of this species.

Handley's short-tailed opossum is a species of mammal in the family Didelphidae. It is only known to exist in its type locality in Peru, and more recently in Brazil.

References

  1. Gardner, A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 13. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 Solari, S.; Tarifa, T. (2015). "Monodelphis adusta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T51343071A22170648. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T51343071A22170648.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. Solari, Sergio (2004). "A new species of Monodelphis (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) from southeastern Peru". Mammalian Biology. 69 (3): 145–152. doi:10.1078/1616-5047-00129 . Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  4. Gardner, Alfred L. "Order Didelphimorphia: Family Didelphidae." Mammals of South America. Vol. 1. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2007. 85-86.