Monodelphis reig, 1830

Astúa, D., 2015, Didelphidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 129-186 : 148

28.

Reig’s Opossum

Monodelphis reig

French: Opossum de Reig / German: Reigs Spitzmausbeutelratte / Spanish: Colicorto de Reig

Taxonomy. Monodelphis reigi Lew & Pérez- Hernandez, 2004 ,

“ carretera El Dorado- Santa Elena , km 134, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela, 1300m.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Venezuela (Sierra de Lema, Bolivar) and W Guyana (Mt Ayanganna, Potaro-Siparuni Region). Descriptive notes Head—body 12-1 cm, tail 7-4 cm. Measurements from the holotype, the only known adult, but weight was not reported. Specimens of Reig’s Opossum from Guyana weighed 19 g, but they were subadults. Dorsal fur is uniformly dark brown, darker on rump and slightly darker or more reddish on head and neck. There are no mid-rostral stripe or eye-rings. Tail length is c.60% of head-body length, and tail has fur on proximal 5 mm, and naked rest of tail is blackish-brown. Ventral fur is predominately gray, very similar to dorsal fur, and thus does not contrast with it. Fur is short (4-5 mm). Feet are blackish or dark brown, and ears are short and black and appear naked. Female Reig’s Opossums probably lack a pouch, but number of mammae has not been reported. Karyotype is unknown.

Habitat. Highland regions of the Guiana Shield, particularly in wet montane habitats of the Guiana Highlands, associated with tepui mountains. The holotype of Reig’s Opossum was collected in an area dominated by montane evergreen forest, with a relatively open understory and a high abundance of epiphytes. Specimens were collected at 1440 m (holotype) and at 1100 m and 2050 m. Guyana specimens were collected in a semi-inundated forest, on sandy soil on the first plateau of Mt. Ayanganna, and in a tepui bog and scrub vegetation on the summit of Mt. Ayanganna.

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. One of the Guyana specimens of Reig’s Opossum was collected in a pitfall trap, suggesting a ground-based habit.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Reig’s Opossum is known only from two localities. One of these is found in Canaima National Park, Venezuela (type locality), but itis argued that Reig’s Opossum is under some risk due to human activities in and around the park, such as fires and selective logging. Within its Venezuelan distribution, a major international road, high-voltage power lines, and tourist activity represent potential disturbances in Canaima National Park, all the way to the border with Brazil. Gold and diamond mining also occur in the area, although only at lower elevations near the park’s boundary.

Bibliography. Lew & Pérez-Hernandez (2004), Lim et al. (2010), Pine & Handley (2007), Solari (2007), Ventura 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. E Venezuela (Sierra de Lema, Bolivar) and W Guyana (Mt Ayanganna, Potaro-Siparuni Region). Descriptive notes Head—body 12-1 cm, tail 7-4 cm. Measurements from the holotype, the only known adult, but weight was not reported. Specimens of Reig’s Opossum from Guyana weighed 19 g, but they were subadults. Dorsal fur is uniformly dark brown, darker on rump and slightly darker or more reddish on head and neck. There are no mid-rostral stripe or eye-rings. Tail length is c.60% of head-body length, and tail has fur on proximal 5 mm, and naked rest of tail is blackish-brown. Ventral fur is predominately gray, very similar to dorsal fur, and thus does not contrast with it. Fur is short (4-5 mm). Feet are blackish or dark brown, and ears are short and black and appear naked. Female Reig’s Opossums probably lack a pouch, but number of mammae has not been reported. Karyotype is unknown.