Patagonian opossum
| Patagonian opossum | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Lestodelphys | ||||||||||||
| Tate , 1934 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Lestodelphys halli | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1921) |
The Patagonian opossum ( Lestodelphys halli ) is a species of marsupial from the family of the opossum (Didelphidae). It only occurs in Patagonia and has the southernmost range of all American marsupials.
description
Outwardly, the Patagonian opossum is slightly similar to the mice to which it is not related. Their dense, short fur is gray on the upper side, the underside and legs are white. She has black spots on her shoulders and hips. The tail, which is significantly shorter than the body, is hairless and can be used as a fat store , as in the fat- tailed rats. The claws are sharper than in other opossum rats and represent an adaptation to a soil-dwelling way of life. They differ from related species by their shorter, wider skull and larger canine teeth. Patagonian opossums reach a head body length of 13 to 14 centimeters, the tail is 8 to 10 centimeters long. One specimen weighed 76 grams.
Way of life
The Patagonian opossum habitats are grasslands in southern South America. They are likely to be mainly soil dwellers and dig burrows with their claws. They are more predatory than other opossum rats and feed primarily on vertebrates such as mice and small birds.
Little is known about reproduction. Females have 19 teats but no pouch, so that the young are carried around hanging from their mother in the first few weeks of life. Like the other opossum rats, they are likely to have a short gestation period and a large litter size.
threat
Only a few specimens of the species are known, all of which were found in a relatively small region. Even if the population trend is declining, it is listed by the IUCN as “not at risk” ( least concern ); in 1996 it was classified as “at risk” ( vulnerable ).
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
- Lestodelphys halli in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2009. Posted by: L. Costa u. a., 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2009.