Marmosops pinheiroi (Pine, 1981)

Astúa, D., 2015, Didelphidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 129-186 : 182

92.

Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum

Marmosops pinheiroi

French: Opossum de Pinheiro / German: Pinheiros Schlankbeutelratte / Spanish: Marmosa esbelta de Pinheiro

Taxonomy. Marmosa parvidens pinheiroi Pine, 1981 ,

“ Rio Amapari , Serra do Navio (0° 59° N, 52° 03’ W), Amapa, Brazil ”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SE Venezuela (Bolivar), the Guianas, and N Brazil (Amapa, Para).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 8.5-12.1 cm,tail 14.2-16 cm; weight 19-33 g. Dorsal fur of Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum is pale grayish-brown, extending onto body sides and does not contrast sharply with ventral fur due to presence of ventral gray-based hairs. Head is same color as dorsum on crown but gradually paler in mid-rostral region, contrasting with narrow, dark eye-rings that do not reach bases of ears. Eye-rings contrast with white cheeks and sometimes have gray-based hairs. Tail length is c.150% of head-body length, and tail is paler dorsally than ventrally. Ventral fur is mostly gray-based creamy or white, with an occasional mid-ventral narrow stripe of white or creamy fur that sometimes extends to chin. Throat is usually completely covered with gray-based white or creamy fur, and chin is usually white but sometimes has gray-based hairs. Males have carpal tubercles. Females lack a pouch and have nine mammae, four on each side and a medial mamma. Karyotype of Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum is unknown. Skull size is sexually dimorphic.

Habitat. [Lowland rainforest, including well-drained and swampy primary forests and secondary forests.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. The holotype of M. woodalli (currently synonymized with Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum) was a female captured with seven embryos in June.

Activity patterns. All Pinheiro’s Slender Opossums captured in French Guiana were captured at night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In French Guiana, 13 Pinheiro’s Slender Opossums were captured on the ground, and six on lianas or vertical stems 0-3—1-5 m above the ground.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum has a wide distribution, occurs in several protected areas, and is relative tolerant of habitat modification.

Bibliography. Adler et al. (2012), Astua (2010), Gardner & Creighton (2007a), Pine (1981), da Silva et al. (2013), Steiner & Catzeflis (2004), Voss, Lim et al. (2013), Voss, Lunde & Simmons (2001).

Figures

76. Patagonian Opossum (Lestodelphys halli), 77. Karimi’s Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys karimii), 78. Dwarf Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys velutinus), 79. Elegant Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys elegans), 80. Pallid Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys pallidior), 81. Tate's Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys tatei), 82. Mesopotamian Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys citellus), 83. Dry Chaco Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys pulchellus), 84. Chacoan Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys pusillus), 85. Paraguayan Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys macrurus), 86. Argentine Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys sponsorius), 87. Buff-bellied Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys venustus), 88. Bishop's Slender Opossum (Marmosops bishop), 89. Junin Slender Opossum (Marmosops juninensis), 90. Delicate Slender Opossum (Marmosops parvidens), 91. Pantepui Slender Opossum (Marmosops pakaraimae), 92. Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops pinheiroi), 93. Handley’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops handleyi), 94. Gray Slender Opossum (Marmosops incanus), 95. Brazilian Slender Opossum (Marmosops paulensis), 96. Neblina Slender Opossum (Marmosops neblina), 97. Tschudi’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops impavidus), 98. Spectacled Slender Opossum (Marmosops ocellatus), 99. Creighton’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops creightoni), 100. White-bellied Slender Opossum (Marmosops noctivagus), 101. Narrow-headed Slender Opossum (Marmosops cracens), 102. Dusky Slender Opossum (Marmosops fuscatus), 103. Panama Slender Opossum (Marmosops invictus)

Distribution. SE Venezuela (Bolivar), the Guianas, and N Brazil (Amapa, Para).