| Bushy-tailed opossum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Subfamily: | Glironiinae Voss & Jansa, 2009[3] |
| Genus: | Glironia Thomas, 1912[2] |
| Species: | G. venusta |
| Binomial name | |
| Glironia venusta | |
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| Range of the bushy-tailed opossum | |
| Synonyms[5] | |
G. aequetorialisH. E. Anthony, 1926[4] | |
Thebushy-tailed opossum (Glironia venusta) is anopossum fromSouth America. It was firstdescribed by English zoologistOldfield Thomas in 1912. It is a medium-sizedopossum characterized by a large, oval, dark ears, fawn to cinnamon coat with a buff to gray underside, grayish limbs, and a furry tail. Little is known of the behavior of the bushy-tailed opossum; less than 25 specimens are known. It appears to bearboreal (tree-living),nocturnal (active mainly at night) and solitary. The diet probably comprises insects, eggs and plant material. This opossum has been captured from heavy, humid,tropical forests; it has been reported fromBolivia,Brazil,Colombia,Ecuador andPeru. TheIUCN classifies it asleast concern.
The bushy-tailed opossum is the sole member ofGlironia, and is placed in the familyDidelphidae. It was firstdescribed by English zoologistOldfield Thomas in 1912. Earlier,Glironia was considered part of the subfamilyDidelphinae. A 1955 revision of marsupial phylogeny groupedCaluromys,Caluromysiops,Dromiciops (monito del monte) andGlironia under a single subfamily, Microbiotheriinae, noting the dental similarities among these. A 1977 study argued that these similarities are the result ofconvergent evolution, and placedCaluromys,Caluromysiops andGlironia in a new subfamily,Caluromyinae.[6] In another similar revision, the bushy-tailed opossum was placed in its own subfamily, Glironiinae.[3]
Thecladogram below, based on a 2016 study, shows thephylogenetic relationships of the bushy-tailed opossum.[7]
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Thegeneric name is acompound of theLatinglir ("dormouse") andGreek suffix -ia (pertains to "quality" or "condition"). Thespecific name,venusta, means "charming" in Latin.[6]
The bushy-tailed opossum is a medium-sizedopossum characterized by a large, oval, dark ears, fawn to cinnamon coat with a buff to gray underside, grayish limbs, and, as its name suggests, a furry tail. The face is marked by two bold, dark stripes extending from either side of the nose through the eyes to the back of the ears. These stripes are separated by a thinner grayish white band, that runs from the midline of the nose to the nape of the neck. The texture of hairs ranges from soft to woolly; the hairs on the back measure 7 to 8 millimetres (0.28 to 0.31 in).[6][8] Five nipples can be seen on the abdomen; it lacks amarsupium.[5] The tail, 19.5 to 22.5 centimetres (7.7 to 8.9 in) long, becomes darker and less bushy towards the tip. Basically the same in color as the coat, the tip may be completely white or have diffuse white hairs.[6]
The head-and-body length is typically between 16 and 20.5 centimetres (6.3 and 8.1 in), the hindfeet measure 2.7 to 3.1 centimetres (1.1 to 1.2 in) and the ears are 2.2 to 2.5 centimetres (0.87 to 0.98 in) long.[6] It weighs nearly 140 grams (4.9 oz).[9] Thedental formula is5.1.3.44.1.3.4 – typical of all didelphids.Canines andmolars are poorly developed. Differences fromMarmosa species (mouse opossums) include smaller ears, longer and narrower rostrum, and greater erectness in canines. The monito del monte has a similar bushy tail.[6][10] A study of the male reproductive system noted that the bushy-tailed opossum has two pairs of bulbourethral glands, as inCaluromys andGracilinanus, but unlike other didelphids that have three pairs. The urethral grooves of the glans penis end near the tips.[11]
Little is known of the behavior of the bushy-tailed opossum. Less than 25 specimens are known.[5] A study noted the morphological features of the opossum that could allow for powerful movements during locomotion, and deduced that it isarboreal (tree-living).[12] It appears to be solitary andnocturnal (active mainly at night).[1] An individual was observed running through and leaping over vines, in a manner typical of opossums, probably hunting for insects. Its diet may be similar to that of the mouse opossums – insects, eggs and plant material.[10]
The bushy-tailed opossum has been captured from heavy, humid,tropical forests, and has not been recorded outside forests. It occurs up to an altitude of 5 kilometres (16,000 ft) above sea level.[1] The range has not been precisely determined; specimens have been collected from regions ofBolivia,Brazil,[9][13][14]Colombia,[15][16]Ecuador andPeru. TheIUCN classifies the bushy-tailed opossum asleast concern, given its wide distribution and presumably large population. The major threats to its survival are deforestation and human settlement.[1]
