Spectacled slender opossum
| Spectacled slender opossum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Genus: | Marmosops |
| Species: | M. ocellatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Marmosops ocellatus | |
The spectacled slender opossum (Marmosops ocellatus), also known as little spotted slender opossum is a species in the Marmosops genus of marsupial mammals from South America.
Description
Marmosops ocellatus has sandy grayish-brown dorsal fur and self-cream that lack distinct lateral zones of gray-based hairs. The tail is distinctly bicolored (dark above, pale below) and particolored (paler distally than proximally), such that the distal one-third or more of the organ is completely pale in most specimens. Individuals can range from 20g-40g in weight.[1][2]
Ecology and population
The spectacled slender opossum inhabits Chiquitania dry forest, a transitional zone between the Cerrado savannah and Amazon rainforest in central and eastern Bolivia and western Brazil. It is found in mature, disturbed, and secondary forests.[2] This species feeds on insects and fruit. It is nocturnal and can climb very well.
Currently Marmosops ocellatus is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN, because of its wide distribution, adaptation to human interference and occurrence in a number of protected areas.[3]
References
- ↑ Voss, Robert S. (December 2004). "An Introduction to Marmosops (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), with the Description of a New Species from Bolivia and Notes on the Taxonomy and Distribution of Other Bolivian Forms" (PDF). American Museum Novitates. 3466: 44 pp.
- 1 2 Semedo, Thiago Borges Fernandes (May 2013). "New records of the Spectacled Slender Opossum Marmosops ocellatus (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) with comments on its geographic distribution limits". Mammalia. 77 (2): 72ff.
- ↑ IUCN red list: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/136842/0