Cryptonanus agricola (Moojen, 1943)

Astúa, D., 2015, Didelphidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 129-186 : 169

66.

Agricola’s Opossum

Cryptonanus agricola

French: Opossum d’Agricola / German: Agricolas Beutelratte / Spanish: Marmosa gréacil de Agricola

Other common names: Agricola’s Gracile Opossum

Taxonomy. Marmosa agricolai Moojen, 1943 ,

“ Crato , Ceara,” Brazil .

Thereis strong evidence that it may be a complex of species, and the actual C. agricola is probably more restricted in its distribution and endemic to the caatinga. Pending a formal revision, however, all information from specimens currently identified as C. agricolai are reported here. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE to SW Brazil (Ceara, Piaui, Pernambuco, Sergipe, Tocantins, Bahia, Goias, Minas Gerais, and Mato Grosso do Sul).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 7.4-9.5 cm, tail 9-11.4 cm; weight 18 g. Dorsal fur in Agricola’s Opossum is grayish or cinnamon brown. Head crown is similar in color to dorsum and extends as a narrow mid-rostral stripe to nose, with narrow eyerings that do not reach nose or bases of ears and contrast with cheeks and facial fur, which are paler than dorsum. Tail length is ¢.120% of head-body length. Ventral fur is whitish or buffy, with inconspicuous gray base, paler on chin and throat. Furis short. Forefeet and hindfeet are whitish, and carpal tubercles are present in old males. Females lack a pouch, but number of mammae is unknown. Agricola’s Opossum has a 2n = 14, FN = 24 karyotype, with all biarmed autosomes, and with a biarmed X-chromosome and an acrocentric Y-chromosome.

Habitat. Open and xeric habitats (caatinga and cerrado) and also found in owl pellets in transition areas between caatinga and Northern Atlantic Forest. The type specimen of Agricola’s Opossum was collected in a sugarcane field. In the caatinga, specimens have been collected in steppe savanna under the influence of agricultural activities. In cerrado, it prefers more open than forested habitats.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In a woodland savanna, Agricola’s Opossums were captured on the ground or in understory. Several specimens from the caatinga and cerrado were captured in pitfall traps, suggesting ground-dwelling habits.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There are very few confirmed records of Agricola’s Opossums (although scattered over a wide area), and little is known aboutits status and habitat requirements. There are several protected areasin its distribution, but there are no confirmed records ofits presence in these areas. Cerrado and caatinga are under strong pressure: the former for conversion to agriculture, mostly for soy plantations, and the latter due to deforestation for coal production and cattle ranching. It is very likely that, as currently understood, Agricola’s Opossum represents a complex of species, and each of these species will need to be properly assessed individually after formal recognition.

Bibliography. Bezerra, Carmignotto & Rodrigues (2009), Bezerra, Lazar et al. (2014), Bonvicino et al. (2012), Caceres, Carmignotto et al. (2008), Caceres, Casella et al. (2008), Caceres, Napoli, Casella & Hannibal (2010), Céceres, Napoli & Hannibal (2011), Carmignotto & Aires (2011), Carmignotto et al. (2012), Carvalho et al. (2002), Garcia et al. (2010), Gardner (2005, 2007c), Hannibal & Caceres (2010), Martinelli et al. (2011), Melo & Sponchiado (2012), Moojen (1943), Rossi et al. (2012), Souza et al. (2010), Voss et al. (2005).

Figures

65. Pygmy Opossum (Chacodelphys formosa), 66. Agricola’s Opossum (Cryptonanus agricola), 67. Chacoan Mouse Opossum (Cryptonanus chacoensis), 68. Guaiba Mouse Opossum (Cryptonanus guahybae), 69. Unduavi Mouse Opossum (Cryptonanus unduaviensis), 70. . Emilie’s. 9 Opossum.. Gracilinanus. (null), 71. Aceramarca Opossum (Gracilinanus aceramarcae), 72. Agile Opossum (Gracilinanus agilis), 73. Wood Sprite Opossum (Gracilinanus dryas), 74. Northern Gracile Opossum (Gracilinanus marica), 75. Brazilian Gracile Opossum (Gracilinanus microtarsus)

Distribution. NE to SW Brazil (Ceara, Piaui, Pernambuco, Sergipe, Tocantins, Bahia, Goias, Minas Gerais, and Mato Grosso do Sul).