Marmosa lepida (Thomas, 1888)

Astúa, D., 2015, Didelphidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 129-186 : 141

19.

Rufous Mouse Opossum

Marmosa lepida

French: Opossum de Bartlett / German: Fuchsrote Zwergbeutelratte / Spanish: Marmosa rufa

Other common names: Little Rufous Mouse Opossum

Taxonomy. Didelphys (Micoureus) lepida Thomas, 1888 ,

“Peruvian Amazons.” Restricted by O. Thomas in 1888 to “Santa Cruz, Huallaga R.,” Loreto, Peru.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E lowlands of Colombia, S Venezuela, the Guianas, W Brazil, E Ecuador, E Peru, and NW Bolivia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 9.7-12 cm, tail 14-15.9 cm; weight 10-18 g. The Rufous Mouse Opossum has bright orange-reddish or chestnut-brown dorsal fur, which is darker on head and slightly paler on body sides. Its black eyes are surrounded by prominent blackish-brown eye-rings that do not reach base of ears, and it lacks any mid-rostral stripe. Tail length is ¢.135% of head-body length, and tail is furred on its proximal 10% and is pale brown with white hairs beneath in its naked part. Ventral fur is creamy white or has a pinkish tint, with variable amounts of gray-based hair, sometimes restricted to sides of chest, abdominal, and inguinal regions, and sometimes present in entire ventral region except for chin, throat, and sometimes chest. It lacks throat gland. Its fur is long and dense, feet are creamy, and ears are short and red-brown. Female Rufous Mouse Opossums lack a pouch and have seven mammae, three on each side and a medial mamma. Karyotype is unknown, and there is no sexual dimorphism in the skull size and shape.

Habitat. Lowland or montane wet tropical forests, and usually from localities with dense forests, at elevations of 45-700 m.

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

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

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

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Rufous Mouse Opossum has a widespread distribution and presumably a large global population, with a lack of major conservation threats.

Bibliography. Astua (2010), Creighton & Gardner (2007b), Emmons & Feer (1997), Gardner (2005), Gutiérrez et al. (2010), Hershkovitz (1992a), Rossi (2005), da Silva et al. (2013), Tate (1933), Thomas (1888a, 1888b), Voss, Gutiérrez et al. (2014), Voss, Lunde & Simmons (2001).

Figures

65. Pygmy Opossum (Chacodelphys formosa), 66. Agricola’s Opossum (Cryptonanus agricola), 67. Chacoan Mouse Opossum (Cryptonanus chacoensis), 68. Guaiba Mouse Opossum (Cryptonanus guahybae), 69. Unduavi Mouse Opossum (Cryptonanus unduaviensis), 70. . Emilie’s. 9 Opossum.. Gracilinanus. (null), 71. Aceramarca Opossum (Gracilinanus aceramarcae), 72. Agile Opossum (Gracilinanus agilis), 73. Wood Sprite Opossum (Gracilinanus dryas), 74. Northern Gracile Opossum (Gracilinanus marica), 75. Brazilian Gracile Opossum (Gracilinanus microtarsus)

Distribution. E lowlands of Colombia, S Venezuela, the Guianas, W Brazil, E Ecuador, E Peru, and NW Bolivia.