Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum
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| Marmosa murina (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum (Marmosa murina), also known as the Common or Murine Mouse Opossum, is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Its range includes Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and eastern Bolivia.[2]
The Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum has a body length of approximately 4.25-5.75 inches (11-14.5 cm), with a tail of approximately 4.75-5.25 inches (13.5-21 cm) long. It is pale beige to grey on its underparts with short, smooth fur. Its face appears to have a black mask on it, its eyes are prominent, and its ears are very upright. Its tail, which females use to carry leaves, is much longer than the rest of its body.[3]
This opossum is most commonly sighted near forest streams and human habitation. It eats insects, spiders, lizards, bird's eggs, chicks, and fruits. A nocturnal creature, it shelters during the day in a mesh of twigs on a tree branch, a tree hole, or an old bird's nest.[3]
The Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum has a gestation period of approximately 13 days, and gives birth to 5-10 young.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Gardner, Alfred (November 16, 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 9. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ a b New World Marsupial Specialist Group (1996). Marmosa murina. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- ^ a b c Clutton-Brock, Juliet and Wilson, Don E (2002). Mammals. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-8404-8.
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