Caenolestes convelatus, Anthony, 1924

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 : 195

3.

Blackish Shrew-opossum

Caenolestes convelatus

French: Cénoleste noiratre / German: Schwarzbraune Opossummaus / Spanish: Raton marsupial negruzco

Other common names: Northern Caenolestid, Northern Shrew-opossum

Taxonomy. Caenolestes convelatus Anthony, 1924 ,

“ Las Maquinas , Western Andes 7000 feet [2134 m] altitude, on trail from Aloag to Santo Domingo de los Colorados,” Pichincha, Ecuador.

The distributions of the subspecies are not well established. The distribution of Colombian shrew-opossums (this species and C. fuliginosus ) are in need of focused sampling and systematic revision. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.c.convelatusAnthony,1924—WslopeoftheAndesinNEcuadoratelevationsof1100-2300m.

C. c. barbarensis Bublitz, 1987 — W range of the Andes in Colombia at elevations of 1800-3800 m.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 12:1-14.6 cm, tail 7.2-14.1 cm, hindfoot 2.5-2.9 cm; weight 40-45 g. The Blackish Shrew-opossum is sexually dimorphic in size, with males generally being larger than females. It is large and blackish brown on dorsum, contrasting with a pale olive-gray venter. Antorbital vacuity in skulls of Blackish Shrew-opossums is narrowed, sometimes becoming altogether roofed by bone.

Habitat. Subtropical and cloud forests, perhaps as high as 4100 m above sea level.

Food and Feeding. The diet of the Blackish Shrew-opossum from the wild has never been reported, but a captive male flourished during five days on a diet of earthworms and pieces of beef.

Breeding. Little is known about the reproductive biology of the Blackish Shrew-opossum, but a male captured in mid-September had enlarged testes (9 x 7 mm).

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

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Blackish Shrew-opossum occurs in an area less than 20,000 km?, with severe fragmentation and a continuing decline in habitat because oflivestock, agriculture, and road building, especially in its southern distributional segment (occupied by the nominate subspecies).

Bibliography. Alberico et al. (2000), Goff & Timm (1985), Ojala-Barbour et al. (2013), Timm & Price (1985), Tirira (2007), Tirira & Burneo (2011).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. C.c.convelatusAnthony,1924—WslopeoftheAndesinNEcuadoratelevationsof1100-2300m. C. c. barbarensis Bublitz, 1987 — W range of the Andes in Colombia at elevations of 1800-3800 m.