Rufous mouse opossum
The rufous mouse opossum (Marmosa lepida) or little rufous mouse opossum[2] is an opossum species from South America. The species has been found in Bolivia, Surinam, French Guinea, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Surinam in lowland tropical rainforest at altitudes from 100 to 1000 m.[2] It is presumed to feed on insects and fruit, like its close relatives.[2]
| Rufous mouse opossum[1] | |
|---|---|
_(1888)_(20772821205).jpg) | |
| Rufous mouse opossum (above) and long-nosed short-tailed opossum (below) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Genus: | Marmosa |
| Subgenus: | Stegomarmosa |
| Species: | M. lepida |
| Binomial name | |
| Marmosa lepida (Thomas, 1888) | |
 | |
| Rufous mouse opossum range | |
It is considered a monotype. It is smaller in size and has a brighter red colored fur, distinguishing it from other congeners.[3]
Though the species has been known for over a century, very few specimens have been studied, most of these from areas below 600m and taken from western edges of the Amazon basin and Guianas. Its dorsal pelage is reddish-brown and its ventral pelage is grayish. Researchers believe this coloring is product of adaptation to a humid forest environment.[3]
References
- 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. 9. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Weksler, M. & Bonvicino, C. (2008). "Marmosa lepida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Gardner, Alfred. Mammals of South America Volume 1. University of Chicago Press. p. 55.