Caenolestes fuliginosus (Tomes, 1863)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Caenolestidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 188-197 : 195

4.

Dusky Shrew-opossum

Caenolestes fuliginosus

French: Cénoleste gris / German: Ecuador-Opossummaus / Spanish: Raton marsupial sedoso

Other common names: Common Gray Shrew-opossum, Dusky Caenolestid, Silky Shrew-opossum

Taxonomy. Hyracodon fuliginosus Tomes, 1863,

“ Ecuador.”

Caenolestes fuliginosus was originally described under the generic name Hyracodon, but that name was already used for an extinct rhinoceros, and thus it was renamed. Limits of distribution for each subspecies in Colombia remain poorly known. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.f.fuliginosusTomes,1863—higherforestedandparamoelevationsoftheAndesinN&CEcuador.

C.f.centralisBublitz,1987—forestsandparamosoftheW,C&ErangesoftheAndesinColombiaandextremeSWVenezuela(Tachira).

C. f. obscurus Thomas, 1895 — apparently restricted to the vicinity of Bogota.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 9.6-13.4 cm, tail 10.3-13.9 cm, hindfoot 2.2-8 cm; weight 25-32 g. The Dusky Shrew-opossum is sexually dimorphic in size, with males generally being larger than females. Of the five species of Caenolestes , the Dusky Shrewopossum has weakest countershading of dorsal and ventral pelage; its tail is uniform brown. Antorbital vacuity forms a comma-shaped opening, and upper canines rarely exceed 1-9 mm in length. A flea (Cleopsylla monticola), chigger (Crotiscus danae), myobiid mite (Caenolestomyobia lukoschusi), and chewing louse (Cummingsia albujar) are all known from the Dusky Shrew-opossum.

Habitat. From tall wet forests with closed canopies and little undergrowth to densely vegetated scrubland and pastures. The Dusky Shrew-opossum occurs in an elevational range from 2134 m in Boyaca (Colombia) to 4300 m on Pichincha Volcano (Ecuador); it occurs at elevations of 2200-2400 m on the Paramo de Tama (eastern Colombia and western Venezuela).

Food and Feeding. The Dusky Shrew-opossum is strongly insectivorous, and stomach contents show its use of larval and adult Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera , Orthoptera, Araeneae, and Scorpiones. It also feeds on earthworms, fruits, and small vertebrates. Offered a variety ofbaits, the Dusky Shrew-opossum showed a strong preference for “meat” baits (small birds and bacon rind vs. rolled oats).

Breeding. Little is known about the reproductive biology of the Dusky Shrew-opossum, but four lactating females were captured in late August in Cauca Department, Colombia; none were carrying young.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Dusky Shrew-opossums appear restless, constantly moving through leaflitter and ground cover in search of food. They appear to use small trails in moss and forest litter.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Dusky Shrew-opossum has a broad geographical and habitat distribution and thus, presumably, a large global population. No major threats occur with its distribution, but on the eastern periphery ofits distribution, it was listed as vulnerable on the Venezuelan Red List in August 2013.

Bibliography. Albuja & Patterson (1996), Bochkov & O'Connor (2009), Bochkov et al. (2013), Herrick (1921), Linares (1998), O'Connell (2006), Ojala-Barbour et al. (2013), Osgood (1921), Timm & Patterson (2007), Timm & Price (1985), Tirira (2007).

Figures

1. Gray-bellied Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes caniventer), 2. Condor Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes condorensis), 3. Blackish Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes convelatus), 4. Dusky Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes fuliginosus), 5. Sangay Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes sangay), 6. Incan Shrew-opossum (Lestoros inca), 7. Long-nosed Shrew-opossum (Rhyncholestes raphanurus)

Subspecies and Distribution. C.f.fuliginosusTomes,1863—higherforestedandparamoelevationsoftheAndesinN&CEcuador. C.f.centralisBublitz,1987—forestsandparamosoftheW,C&ErangesoftheAndesinColombiaandextremeSWVenezuela(Tachira). C. f. obscurus Thomas, 1895 — apparently restricted to the vicinity of Bogota.