About
A delicately built mouse opossum, with a prehensile tail and no pouch.
A delicately built mouse opossum, with a prehensile tail and no pouch. Virtually nothing is known about the ecology of this species. It is thought to be nocturnal, arboreal and eat fruit and insects, like other 14 mouse opossums of the genus Marmosops. It is only known from one small 48km² location in central Colombia, whose surrounding environment has been converted to agriculture and pastures.
- Order: Didelphimorphia
- Family: Didelphidae
- Population: Unknown
- Trend: decreasing
- Size: 104-122mm
- Weight: 21-85g
EDGE Score
Distribution
Handley’s slender mouse opossum inhabits 3 known sites within central Columbia, two in Yaramul and one at Amalfi. All 3 sites are found within a 48km long range.
Habitat and Ecology
This species nocturnal and arboreal, inhabiting lowland or montane tropical rainforest. They feed on insects and fruit, they are thought to be reproductively active during Colombia’s rainy season (Sept-Nov) and have a weaning period that lasts until the following dry season (Dec-Feb).