Thylamys

Thylamys elegans

The fat-tailed opossums ( Thylamys ) are a genus of the family of opossums ( Didelphidae ). They are located in central and southern South America.

General

Fat-tailed opossums are mouse-like marsupials. Their fur is gray or brown on the top, the underside is lighter, often yellow whitish. Like all smaller opossums They have large eyes, a pointed snout and large ears. Their coat is dense and soft. Named giving feature is the hairless tail that can be used as fat storage. Strong claws on the forefeet provide an adaptation to the soil-dwelling life dar. fat tail possums reach a body length 7-15 cm, a tail length of 9-16 cm and a weight of 18 to 55 grams.

These animals are less picky in relation to their habitat than other types of opossums. They are found in forests and in grasslands and rocky areas. You can climb trees, but often live on the ground. As Sleeps serve them burrows, burrows of other animals or leaves nests in the trees. Like most possums are nocturnal loner. They are omnivorous, taking mainly insects, small vertebrates and fruit to himself.

Females have 15 teats, but no bag. The litter size is between eight and twelve, sometimes up to 15 pups. These are worn hanging around in the first weeks of life from the female to her body.

System

Until recently, these animals were classified in the genus of dwarf opossums ( Marmosa ). Because of the possibility to use the tail as fat stores, the stronger claws and differences in the structure of the skull and teeth, they are now run as a separate genus.

There are at least five types distinguished:

• Thylamys elegans lives in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and northwestern Argentina.
• Thylamys macrura is native to Paraguay and southern Brazil.
• Thylamys pallidior occurs in Bolivia and Argentina.
• Thylamys pusilla is widespread in southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
• Thylamys velutinus occurs in Southeast Brazil.
• Younger classifications also lists a number of other species, including Thylamys cinderella, T. karimii, T. sponsorius, T. and T. venustus tatei.