Southern red-sided opossum

Southern red-sided opossum[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Genus: Monodelphis
Species: M. sorex
Binomial name
Monodelphis sorex
(Hensel, 1872)
Southern red-sided opossum range

The Southern red-sided opossum (Monodelphis sorex) is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

This opossum has small rounded ears, a long pointed nose and a tail which is half as long as its body. The head, neck and foreparts are grey, the back is dark brown and the rump is reddish. It has short fur and the males are larger than the females. It is terrestrial and mainly feeds on insects, although it will also eat small vertebrates and fruit. Unlike most marsupials, the female has no pouch for the developing young. They cling to the mother’s nipples and when they are older, ride on her back and flanks.[3]

It is also called the shrewish short-tailed opossum, or dwarf short-tailed opossum.[4]

References

  1. Gardner, A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Vieira, E.; Astua de Moraes, D. & Brito, D. (2008). "Monodelphis sorex". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  3. ARKive.org
  4. http://www.knowyoursto.com/didelphidae/monodelphis.html#monodelphis_sorex


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