Marmosops pakaraimae, Voss et al., 2013

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Didelphidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 129-186 : 181-182

91.

Pantepui Slender Opossum

Marmosops pakaraimae

French: Opossum des Pakaraima / German: Pantepui-Schlankbeutelratte / Spanish: Marmosa esbelta de Pakaraima

Taxonomy. Marmosops pakaraimae Voss et al., 2013 ,

“ Second Camp ” (5° 17° N, 60° 45° W, 800 m above sea level), Mount Roraima , Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region, Guyana.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Pantepui region of SE Venezuela and W Guyana.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 10.4-11.6 cm,tail 15.1-16.9 cm; weight 25-33 g. The Pantepui Slender Opossum has dark brown dorsal fur and paler fur on body sides. Head is colored as dorsum on crown and is slightly paler between eyes. There are dark eye-rings but no mid-rostral stripe. Tail length is ¢.150% of head-body length, and tail is darker dorsally and paler ventrally, especially in proximal region. Ventral fur is whitish on tip of chin around mouth and on scrotum, contrasting with body sides, and gray-based on throat, chest, and abdominal region. Males have carpal tubercles. Females probably lack a pouch, but no females have been examined so number of mammae is unknown. Karyotype of the Pantepui Slender Opossum is unknown.

Panama Slender Opossum ( Marmosops invictus ).

Habitat. Primary evergreen pre-montane forest with relatively open canopy, wet and rocky soil, some epiphytes and lianas, abundant leaf litter, abundant moss on tree trunks, roots, and rocks, and ferns and orchids, at elevations of 800-1500 m (based on several of five known capture localities).

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Most specimens were trapped at ground level or in traps set in understory at heights of 2 m or less.

Status and Conservation. The Pantepui Slender Opossum has not been assessed on The IUCN Red List because it was described very recently. Conservation status of all opossumsis being reassessed by the IUCN New World Marsupial Specialists Group.

Bibliography. Voss et al. (2013).

Figures

76. Patagonian Opossum (Lestodelphys halli), 77. Karimi’s Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys karimii), 78. Dwarf Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys velutinus), 79. Elegant Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys elegans), 80. Pallid Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys pallidior), 81. Tate's Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys tatei), 82. Mesopotamian Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys citellus), 83. Dry Chaco Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys pulchellus), 84. Chacoan Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys pusillus), 85. Paraguayan Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys macrurus), 86. Argentine Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys sponsorius), 87. Buff-bellied Fat-tailed Opossum (Thylamys venustus), 88. Bishop's Slender Opossum (Marmosops bishop), 89. Junin Slender Opossum (Marmosops juninensis), 90. Delicate Slender Opossum (Marmosops parvidens), 91. Pantepui Slender Opossum (Marmosops pakaraimae), 92. Pinheiro’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops pinheiroi), 93. Handley’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops handleyi), 94. Gray Slender Opossum (Marmosops incanus), 95. Brazilian Slender Opossum (Marmosops paulensis), 96. Neblina Slender Opossum (Marmosops neblina), 97. Tschudi’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops impavidus), 98. Spectacled Slender Opossum (Marmosops ocellatus), 99. Creighton’s Slender Opossum (Marmosops creightoni), 100. White-bellied Slender Opossum (Marmosops noctivagus), 101. Narrow-headed Slender Opossum (Marmosops cracens), 102. Dusky Slender Opossum (Marmosops fuscatus), 103. Panama Slender Opossum (Marmosops invictus)

Distribution. Pantepui region of SE Venezuela and W Guyana.