Patagonian opossum

The Patagonian opossum ( Lestodelphys halli ) is a Beutelsäugerart from the family of opossums ( Didelphidae ). You only occurs in Patagonia and has all of American marsupials, the southernmost area of ​​distribution.

Description

The Patagonian opossum resembles externally slightly mice, with whom she is not related. Her thick, short fur is gray on the top, bottom and legs are white. Across the shoulders, hips she has black spots. The tail, which is significantly shorter than the body is densely hairy and can be used as in the fat tail possums as fat storage. The claws are sharper than other possums and make an adjustment to a ground-dwelling lifestyle dar. Due to the shorter, broader skull and the larger canines, they differ from related species. Patagonian opossum reach a body length 13-14 centimeters, the tail is 8-10 inches long. A copy had a weight of 76 grams.

Way of life

Habitat of the Patagonian opossums are grasslands in southern South America. You are likely to be mainly bottom dwellers and dig burrows with their claws. They live predatory than other possums and feed primarily on vertebrate animals such as mice and small birds.

Little is known about reproduction. Females have 19 teats, but no bag so that the pups in the first weeks of life are carried around hanging from the mother. Like the other possums they are likely to have a short gestation period and a high litter size.

Threat

The species is known only from a few specimens, all of which were found in a relatively small region. Even if the population trend is decreasing, it is " not at risk " by the IUCN as listed (least concern), it was still considered "at risk " ( vulnerable ) in 1996 classified.