Caenolestes caniventer, Anthony, 1921

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Caenolestidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 188-197 : 194-195

1.

Gray-bellied Shrew-opossum

Caenolestes caniventer

French: Cénoleste a ventre gris / German: Graubauchige Opossummaus / Spanish: Raton marsupial de vientre gris

Other common names: Gray-bellied Caenolestid, Pale-bellied Shrew-opossum

Taxonomy. Cenolestes caniventer Anthony, 1921 ,

“El Chiral, Western Andes; altitude, 5350 ft.; Prov. Del Oro, Ecuador.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W slope ofthe Andes in C & S Ecuador and NW Peru (N and S ofthe Huancabamba Depression), extending onto E slope in NWPeru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 9.1-12.8 cm, tail 11-:8-15 cm, hindfoot 2:4.2-7 cm; weight 29-47 g. The Gray-bellied Shrew-opossumis sexually dimorphic in size, with males generally being larger than females. Northern shrew-opossums (all five species of Caenolestes ) have conical, single-rooted canine teeth in both sexes; the last upper incisor mostlyfills the space between the third incisor, and the canine, first, and second premolars of comparable size; and they have a forward-facing orientation ofthe infraorbital foramen (opening below the eye socket). The Gray-bellied Shrew-opossum possesses a conspicuous dark pectoral spot on the grayish ventral pelage that contrasts strongly with dorsal pelage. Antorbital vacuity is open, and post-palatine torus is curved. A species of myobiid mite (Caenolestomyobia faini) was described from the Gray-bellied Shrewopossum.

Habitat. Primary and secondary subtropical and temperate montane forests, with canopies 15-20 m in height and a thick herbaceous understory offerns and saplings. Graybellied Shrew-opossums also inhabit secondary shrubby forest dominated by Ocotea (Lauraceae) , with sparser canopies and ground cover. They occur over an elevational range of 1630-3340 m.

Food and Feeding. Gray-bellied Shrew-opossums are opportunistic feeders, concentrating mostly on invertebrates. Caterpillars, centipedes, arachnids, a variety of other invertebrates, fruits, and occasional small vertebrates are eaten.

Breeding. In southern Ecuador, pregnancy in Gray-bellied Shrew-opossums occurs in September; the sole gravid female examined contained two embryos, one in each uterine horn.

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

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Gray-bellied Shrew-opossum uses trails, tunnels, and cavities under tree roots along streams and on steep mountainous slopes.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. The Gray-bellied Shrew-opossum is probably experiencing population declines from habitat conversion to agriculture and from logging;it is restricted to forest within a relatively narrow elevational band.

Bibliography. Albuja & Patterson (1996), Anthony (1923), Barkley & Whitaker (1984), Barnett (1991), Bochkov & OConnor (2009), Lunde & Pacheco (2003), Ojala-Barbour et al. (2013), Tirira (2007).

Figures

1. Gray-bellied Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes caniventer), 2. Condor Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes condorensis), 3. Blackish Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes convelatus), 4. Dusky Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes fuliginosus), 5. Sangay Shrew-opossum (Caenolestes sangay), 6. Incan Shrew-opossum (Lestoros inca), 7. Long-nosed Shrew-opossum (Rhyncholestes raphanurus)

Distribution. W slope ofthe Andes in C & S Ecuador and NW Peru (N and S ofthe Huancabamba Depression), extending onto E slope in NWPeru.