Linnaeus's mouse opossum

Linnaeus's mouse opossum[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Didelphimorphia
Family:	Didelphidae
Genus:	Marmosa
Subgenus:	Marmosa
Species:	M. murina
Binomial name
Marmosa murina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Linnaeus's mouse opossum range
Synonyms
Didelphis murina Linnaeus, 1758 Didelphis dorsigera Linnaeus, 1758

Linnaeus's mouse opossum (Marmosa murina), also known as the common or murine mouse opossum, is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae.^[1]

Range and habitat

Its range includes Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and eastern Bolivia.^[3][4]

This opossum is most commonly sighted near forest streams and human habitation. A nocturnal creature, it shelters during the day in a mesh of twigs on a tree branch, a tree hole, or an old bird's nest.

Behavior

It eats insects, spiders, lizards, bird's eggs, chicks, and fruits.

Linnaeus's mouse opossum has a gestation period of approximately 13 days, and gives birth to 5–10 young.^[4]

The mouse opossum will "play dead" if it thinks that it is in danger, it will even smell as if it were dead.^[4]

Description

It is pale beige to grey on its underparts with short, smooth fur. Its face appears to have a black mask on it, its eyes are prominent, and its ears are very upright. Its tail, which females use to carry leaves, is much longer than the rest of its body.^[4]

Linnaeus's mouse opossum has a body length of approximately 11–14.5 centimetres (4.3–5.7 in), with a tail of approximately 13.5–21 cm (5.3–8.3 in) long.^[4] It weighs about 250 grams (8.8 oz).

References

1. 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. 9. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. Brito, D.; Astúa, D.; Lew, D.; Soriano, P.; Emmons, L. (2021). "Marmosa murina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T40505A197308868. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T40505A197308868.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
3. "Marmosa murina (Linnaeus, 1758)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
4. "Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum - Marmosa Murina - Animal Information". animalinformation.com. 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-12-15.