Kingdom Animalia Infraclass Marsupialia Family Didelphidae Scientific name Monodelphis Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Order Didelphimorphia Subfamily Didelphinae Higher classification Didelphinae | |
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Lower classifications Gray short‑tailed opossum, Northern red‑sided opossum, Yellow‑sided opossum, Northern three‑striped opossum, Pygmy short‑tailed opossum | ||
Gray short tailed opossum
Monodelphis is a genus of marsupials in the family Didelphidae, commonly referred to as short-tailed opossums. They are found throughout South America. The most recently described species are Monodelphis arlindoi Pavan, Rossi & Schneider, 2012, Monodelphis sanctaerosae Voss, Pine & Solari, 2012 and Monodelphis gardneri Solari et al., 2012, with reinstatement of Monodelphis touan (Shaw, 1800), Monodelphis pinocchio Pavan, 2015 and Monodelphis saci Pavan, 2017.
Contents
- Gray short tailed opossum
- Monodelphis domestica short tailed opossums eating
- Species
- Conservation status
- Reproductive Development
- References
Monodelphis domestica short tailed opossums eating
Species
Speciation is based on fur coloration with additional details coming from differences in the skull and teeth.
Conservation status
M. sorex and M. rubida are considered to be endangered. M. dimidiata is unusual in that it is a semelparous species, something rarely seen in mammals (found predominately in smaller didelphids and dasyurids).
Reproductive Development
The genus Monodelphis is marsupial; they are born under-developed and then mature further in the mother's pouch. Another genus in the subfamily is the large American opossum Didelphis, which has a generally similar reproductive development, but differs in their weaning periods. In Monodelphis, the young first come off the teat in 12 days, whereas this occurs at 48 days in Didelphis. Most of the events in this process occur about 2-4 weeks later in Didelphis than in Monodelphis. This may be related to the shorter longevity of the species of Monodelphis compared to other marsupials who nurse for a longer period.
