Rufous mouse opossum
Species of marsupial
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The rufous mouse opossum (Marmosa lepida) or little rufous mouse opossum[2] is an opossum species from South America. The species has been found in Bolivia, French Guinea, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname in lowland tropical rainforest at altitudes from 100 to 1,000 m (330 to 3,280 ft).[2] It is presumed to feed on insects and fruit, like its close relatives.[2]
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| Rufous mouse opossum[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Rufous mouse opossum (above) and long-nosed short-tailed opossum (below) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Genus: | Marmosa |
| Subgenus: | Stegomarmosa |
| Species: | M. lepida |
| Binomial name | |
| Marmosa lepida (Thomas, 1888) | |
 | |
| Rufous mouse opossum range | |
It is considered a monotype. It is smaller in size and has a brighter red colored fur, distinguishing it from other congeners.[3]
Though the species has been known for over a century, very few specimens have been studied, most of these from areas below 600 m (2,000 ft) and taken from western edges of the Amazon basin and Guianas. Its dorsal pelage is reddish-brown and its ventral pelage is grayish. Researchers believe this coloring is product of adaptation to a humid forest environment.[3]
Potential predators of this opossum include snakes, owls, and wild felids.[4]
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