Lutrine Opossum
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| Lutreolina crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804 |
The Lutrine Opossum (Lutreolina crassicaudata), also known as Little Water Opossum or Thick-tailed Opossum, is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia and Guyana. Populations in the two last countries are isolated from the populations of all the other countries.
It is a very peculiar opossum, having a long weasel-like body and a dense redish or yellowish fur. It also has a long tail and small rounded ears. It can be found in areas with permanent water bodies, in marshy or riparian habitats.
Lutrine Opossums are nocturnal animals and can swim and climb very well. They feed on fish, other small vertebrates and insects.
[edit] Subspecies
- Lutreolina crassicaudata crassicaudata
- Lutreolina crassicaudata turneri
[edit] References
- New World Marsupial Specialist Group (1996). Lutreolina crassicaudata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- John F. Eisenberg and Kent H. Redford, 2000. Mammals of Neotropics: Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil.
- Gardner, Alfred (November 16, 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 8. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
