Pygmy short-tailed opossum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy short-tailed opossum |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Monodelphis
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| Species: |
kunsi
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| Pygmy short-tailed opossum range | |
The pygmy short-tailed opossum, with the scientific name Monodelphis kunsi, is a small opossum species found in South America. It's a type of marsupial (like a kangaroo or koala) from the opossum family called Didelphidae. Even though it's a marsupial, it doesn't have the pouch that many marsupials are known for. You can find these opossums in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. It's called a 'pygmy' opossum because it's quite small compared to other opossums. Baby opossums are called 'joeys', female opossums are called 'Jills', and males are called 'jacks'. In 2001, people thought this opossum might be endangered, but now its population is doing better. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now lists it as being of least concern.
What They Look Like
The pygmy short-tailed opossum is a small animal with short, warm-brown fur on its back. Its belly is lighter, with pale, creamy patches of fur. It has whiskers (called vibrissae) in three places on its face: around its nose, above its eyes and near its ears, and under its chin.
Unlike some other animals, this opossum doesn't have a bony ridge on top of its head. However, it does have a special gland on its throat. Its snout (the front part of its head) isn't as long as some other opossums, but it still looks like a typical Monodelphis or Didelphis opossum snout.
These opossums usually weigh about 19 grams (less than an ounce). Their body length is about 7 to 9.4 centimeters (about 3 to 3.7 inches) long. Their tail is quite short, only about 4.1 to 4.2 centimeters (about 1.6 inches) long. The tail can grip things a little bit and is covered with very tiny hairs. The tip of the tail is hairless, which is common for many Short-tailed opossums. Scientists think the tail also helps them feel their way around.
Where They Live
The pygmy short-tailed opossum lives on the ground in many different places across South America. They have been seen in southern and eastern Bolivia, eastern Paraguay, western, central, and southeastern Brazil, and northern Argentina. Because they are found in so many different and spread-out areas, some scientists think that what we call M. kunsi might actually be a group of several similar species.
One study in Brazil's Urucum Mountains found M. kunsi at all heights, from 150 meters (about 490 feet) to over 1000 meters (about 3,280 feet). This study suggested that in that area, these opossums prefer grasslands. They are also found in the Rio Lipeo area of Tarija, Bolivia, at heights between 200 and 640 meters (about 650 to 2,100 feet). In Paraguay, they are often found in shrub forests that are 6 to 12 meters (about 20 to 40 feet) tall. Overall, M. kunsi can live in many different types of places, from forests to dry savannahs and even Amazonian rainforests.
What They Eat and How They Behave
We don't know a lot about the pygmy short-tailed opossum's daily life and habits, as not many studies have been done. However, scientists believe they mostly eat insects. This idea comes from looking at their teeth, the shape of their skull, and the size of their skull. Their canine teeth are not very large, and their back incisor teeth are bigger than their front ones.
When it comes to being hunted, one study in southeastern Brazil found that pygmy short-tailed opossums are not a common meal for animals like the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the barn owl (Tyto alba), or the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia).
We also don't know much about how M. kunsi reproduces. However, other Monodelphis species are known to reproduce only once in their lifetime (this is called semelparous breeding). It's possible that this species does the same, but more research is needed to be sure.
See also
In Spanish: Colicorto pigmeo para niños
