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Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Didelphid (American opossum) remains are known from North American fossil deposits dating back 70-80 million years ago. These small marsupials are thought to have entered South America and Europe from North America, but by 10-20 million years ago they had become extinct in both of these regions. Opossums re-entered North America when the Isthmus of Panama reformed, connecting North and South America, around 3 million years ago. The family Didelphidae includes 87 species in 17 genera.
Species of Marmosops have long been confused with Marmosa, which they superficially resemble in size and external appearance, but these taxa are only distantly related. Recent molecular data suggests that Marmosops belongs to a didelphine clade that also includes Gracilinanus, Lestodelphys and Thylamys. The recently described genus Chacodelphys may also belong to this group.
Size:
Head and body length: approx 104-122 mm
Tail length: approx 129-149 mm
Tail length: approx 129-149 mm
Weight: approx. 24-85 g
A delicately built opossum, generally smaller than individuals of Marmosa with which it is often confused. The fur is long and slightly woolly. The upper parts are dark brown or grey and the underparts are pale grey or cream. There is a dark eye ring which contrasts with the paler fur of the crown and cheeks. The prehensile tail is long and slender, and is dark above with paler mottling below. There is no pouch.
Very little is known about the ecology of this species. Closely related species are generally found on the ground or a few metres above the ground (on logs, branches and lianas). They are thought to be nocturnal and eat insects and fruit.
Probably inhabits either lowland or montane tropical rainforest.
This species is known from one site in central Colombia (Valdivia).
Unknown.
Unknown.
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR B1+2c ) on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The species is threatened by habitat loss, and is only known from a single locality.
There do not appear to be any conservation measures in place for this species.
No official conservation recommendations have been made for this species.
New World Marsupial Specialist Group 1996. Marmosops handleyi. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 August 2006
. Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Pine, R. H. 1981. Review of the mouse opossums Marmosa parvidens Tate and Marmosa invicta Goldman (Mammalia: Marsupialia; Didelphidae) with descriptions of a new species. Mammalia 45(I): 55-70.
Voss, R. S. , Tarifa, T. and Yensen, E. 2004. An Introduction to Marmosops (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), with the Description of a New Species from Bolivia and Notes on the Taxonomy and Distribution of Other Bolivian Forms. American Museum Novitates 3466: 1-40.
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
. Nowak, R.M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.
Pine, R. H. 1981. Review of the mouse opossums Marmosa parvidens Tate and Marmosa invicta Goldman (Mammalia: Marsupialia; Didelphidae) with descriptions of a new species. Mammalia 45(I): 55-70.
Voss, R. S. , Tarifa, T. and Yensen, E. 2004. An Introduction to Marmosops (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), with the Description of a New Species from Bolivia and Notes on the Taxonomy and Distribution of Other Bolivian Forms. American Museum Novitates 3466: 1-40.
Distribution map based on data provided by the IUCN Global Mammal Assessment.
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