Handley's short-tailed opossum

Handley's short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis handleyi) is a species of mammal in the family Didelphidae. It is only known to exist in its type locality in Peru, and more recently in Brazil.[1][2]

Handley's short-tailed opossum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Genus: Monodelphis
Species:
M. handleyi
Binomial name
Monodelphis handleyi
Solari, 2007

Taxonomy

The holotype for the species was caught by Jessica Amanzo on February 5, 1997, in Peru.

The species is named after Charles O. Handley, Jr. to honor his contribution to the study of neotropical mammals. [1]

Description

The opossum is medium-sized and robust. It has short dorsal fur with the hair having pale gray bases and brown tips. It has dull cream underparts with a pale midventral stripe. It has a brownish head and rump, with short, white whiskers. A yellowish to orange throat gland is present. The pinnae are uniformly brown and are furless.

It has short, robust limbs.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The opossum is known only from Peru and Brazil. The specimens were caught swampy and well-drained forest bordering primary and secondary forests. The height of the tree canopy was 25-30 meters with a dense understory and abundant palms. [3][2]

Conservation

The opossum is assessed as data-deficient by the IUCN. There is lack of information about the animals habitat requirement, population, and habits, although probable threats include selective logging and deforestation in its range.[3]

References
  1. Solari, Sergio (2007-04-01). "New Species of Monodelphis (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) from Peru, with Notes on M. adusta ()". Journal of Mammalogy. 88 (2): 319–329. doi:10.1644/06-MAMM-A-075R1.1.
  2. Bezerra, Alexandra M. R.; Bonvicino, Cibele R.; Caramaschi, Fabiana P.; Castiglia, Riccardo (2019-07-01). "Discovery of the rare Handley's short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis handleyi, in the threatened southern Amazonian savanna of Brazil". Mammalian Biology. 97: 28–35. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2019.04.003. ISSN 1616-5047. S2CID 149476502.
  3. Sergio Solari (Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia) (2016-07-30). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Handley's Short-tailed Opossum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-04-07.


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