Mouse opossoms | |
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The head of a Robinson's Mouse Opossum (Marmosa robinsoni). | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Didelphimorphia |
Family: | Didelphidae |
Subfamily: | Didelphinae |
Genus: | Marmosa Gray, 1821 |
Type species | |
Didelphis marina Gray, 1821 |
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Species | |
The nine species in the genus Marmosa are relatively small Neotropic members of the order Didelphimorphia.[1] This genus is one of four that are known as mouse opossums. The others are Micoureus (the "woolly mouse opossums"), Thylamys (the "fat-tailed mouse opossums") and Tlacuatzin, the grayish mouse opossum. Members of the genus Marmosops used to be called "slender mouse opossums", but are now just called "slender opossums".
Mouse opossums are generally found in rainforests as they scavenge bromeliads for food.