Mexican mouse opossum
Mexican mouse opossum[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Didelphimorphia |
Family: | Didelphidae |
Genus: | Marmosa |
Subgenus: | Exulomarmosa
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Species: | M. mexicana
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Binomial name | |
Marmosa mexicana Merriam, 1897
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Mexican mouse opossum range |
The Mexican mouse opossum (Marmosa mexicana) is a species of
Description
Marmosa mexicana is a small to moderate-sized reddish-brown marsupial, varying from bright to dull coloration. Hairs of the back, sides and outer surfaces of legs are lead-colored at the base and tipped with reddish brown. The forehead and nose are paler in color. The eye-rings are black and vary in intensity based on the region of the individual. The cheeks, throat, belly and inner surfaces of legs are yellowish with a median white pectoral area.[3] Body hair continues onto the tail for approximately 10 mm. Its nose is pink, ears are grayish brown, and its tail is a dusky brown. It possesses a prehensile tail of equal length to its body. While appearing naked, the tail in fact has a fine layer of hair.[4]
Reproduction
Like all marsupials, gestation is probably short, with females' giving birth to poorly developed young and most of the development taking place during lactation.[5] It is likely that reproduction is similar to that of Marmosa robinsoni, which gives birth to 6 to 14 young after a gestation period of just 14 days. The tiny young, measuring only up to 12 millimeters, attach themselves to the mother's mammae where they may remain for around 30 days.[6] Unlike many marsupials, female mouse opossums do not possess a pouch to protect the young as they develop. The young are so undeveloped their eyes do not open until 39 to 40 days. It is likely that the young are completely weaned after around 65 days, and they may have an incredibly short life span of only one year. Marmosa species build nests for shelter, or use abandoned bird nests, holes in trees, or banana stalks. These nest sites are unlikely to be permanent; rather, the opossum will use whatever site is available as the sun begins to rise.[7]
Range
It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, eastern Mexico as far north as Tamaulipas, Nicaragua, and western Panama at elevations from sea level up to 3000 m (at Volcán Tacaná); most commonly, it is found below 1800 m.[2]
Habitat
This opossum is found in primary and secondary forest, including lowland
Habits
The species is primarily
Conservation
There are no current threats to this species however with the current deforestation and expansion of resource harvesting, the habitat could be threatened in the future.[10]
References
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Tate, G. H. H. 1933. A systematic revision of the marsupial genus Marmosa, with a discussion of the adaptive radiation of the murine opossums (Marmosa). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 66: 1-250.
- ^ Alonso-Mejia, Alfonso and Medellin, Rodrigo A (1992). Marmosa Mexicana. Mammalian Species, 421 1-4.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life. Marmosa Andersoni: Anderson’s Mouse Possum. Accessed 14 December 2012. Available from: http://eol.org/pages/290123/details
- ^ O'Connell, M.A. (1983) Marmosa robinsoni. Mammalian Species, 203: 1 - 6.
- ^ O'Connell
- ^ World Wildlife Fund. 2010. Petenes mangroves Archived 2011-10-15 at the Wayback Machine. eds. Mark McGinley, C.Michael Hogan & C.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC
- ^ Alonso-Mejia
- ^ iucn