Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum

Taxobox
name = Linnaeus's Mouse OpossumMSW3 Gardner|pages=9]
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=New World Marsupial Specialist Group | year = 1996 | id = 40505 | title = Marmosa murina | downloaded = 12 May 2006]


image_width =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Didelphimorphia
familia = Didelphidae
genus = "Marmosa"
species = "M. murina"
binomial = "Marmosa murina"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum ("Marmosa murina"), also known as the Common or Murine Mouse Opossum, is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Its range includes Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and eastern Bolivia.

Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum has a body length of approximately 4.25-5.75 inches (11-14.5 cm), with a tail of approximately 4.75-5.25 inches (13.5-21 cm) long. It is pale beige to grey on its underparts with short, smooth fur. Its face appears to have a black mask on it, its eyes are prominent, and its ears are very upright. Its tail, which females use to carry leaves, is much longer than the rest of its body.cite book | author = Clutton-Brock, Juliet and Wilson, Don E | year = 2002 | title = Mammals
location = New York | publisher = DK Publishing | id = ISBN 0-7894-8404-8]

This opossum is most commonly sighted near forest streams and human habitation. It eats insects, spiders, lizards, bird's eggs, chicks, and fruits. A nocturnal creature, it shelters during the day in a mesh of twigs on a tree branch, a tree hole, or an old bird's nest.

Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum has a gestation period of approximately 13 days, and gives birth to 5-10 young.

References