Gracilinanus agilis — Details

Agile Opossum learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Distribution

Range Description

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This species is found in the southeast of Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Peru and eastern Bolivia.
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Geographic Range

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This opossum is found from eastern Brazil to eastern Peru and northern Argentina.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

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Physical Description

Morphology

Physical Description

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Head-body length averages 110 mm while tail length averages 137 mm. Males and females are similar in size. Their tails are naked and prehensile. Mouse opossums have an opposable big toe on their hind feet, which allows them to rapidly climb thin vines. Their opposable toes lack claws. They have very mobile, membraneous ears.

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
G. agilis is nocturnal and arboreal. It frequents the forest understory, where they use slender branches and vines. Found in evergreen and gallery forests (Emmons and Feer, 1997). G. agilis is a characteristic inhabitant of the gallery forest of southern South America but has broad habitat tolerance. It has been caught under fallen trunks, in tree holes, and in moist woodland. It is reported to be an adept climber, and nests made of vegetation have been found 1.6 m off the ground. One such nest contained seven individuals. In eastern Paraguay it has usually been captured in vegetation but sometimes has been caught on the ground. Specimens are commonly captured in pitfall traps. It is likely that specimens reported from the Cerrado were misidentified Crytonanus. This marsupial is found throughout the Brazilian cerrado, usually associated with mesic areas such as gallery forests. This mouse opossum is reported to have up to twelve young. Females lack a true pouch, and the teats remain hidden when the female is not lactating (Massoia and Fornes 1972, Nitikman and Mares 1987).

Systems
  • Terrestrial
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Habitat

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This opossum lives in forest habitats.

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

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Trophic Strategy

Food Habits

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These opossums are omnivores, feeding mainly on insects and soft fruits. They are nocturnal.

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Life History and Behavior

Life Expectancy

Lifespan/Longevity

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Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 6.1 years.

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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 6.1 years (captivity) Observations: One captive animal was still alive at 6.1 years of age (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Reproduction

Reproduction

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Females produce two litters annually. A female's first estrus occurs at 265-75 days. Gestation lasts about 20 days. A female has 13 teats, but not all teats are functional. The maximum litter size is 11; average 7-9. The weight of each newbornis less than 250 mg, and the young are extremely altricial at birth. This species lacks a pouch. After the young are born, they crawl up the mother's belly and attach themselves to a nipple. Weaning occurs at 60-70 days. The young leave the mother a few days after they have been weaned.

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2011

Assessor/s
Carmignotto, A., Solari, S., de la Sancha, N. & Costa, L.

Reviewer/s
Flores, D. & Chiozza, F.

Contributor/s

Justification
This species is listed as Least Concern in because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, tolerance of some degree of habitat modification, occurrence in a number of protected areas and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category. However, this species could be listed as Near Threaten in Paraguay, because in the country it is restricted only to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Paraguay which has experienced severe landscape change and deforestation.

History
  • 1996
    Lower Risk/near threatened
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Conservation Status

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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Population

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Population
This species is locally common to rare. It may be present but very rare throughout western Amazonia, but common in dry forests to the south (Emmons and Feer 1997).

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
There are no major threats to this species. In some areas, especially along the Andean foothills, the species is probably declining due to deforestation.
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
This species occurs in protected areas. Further research is needed on the distribution of this species and effect of possible threats.
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Wikipedia

Agile gracile opossum

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The Agile Gracile Opossum (Gracilinanus agilis), is an opossum species from South America.[1] It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

It is nocturnal, arboreal and frequents the forest understory, where they use slender branches and vines. Found in evergreen and gallery forests . It is a characteristic inhabitant of the gallery forest of southern South America but has broad habitat tolerance. It has been caught under fallen trunks, in tree holes, and in moist woodland. It is reported to be an adept climber, and nests made of vegetation have been found 1.6 m off the ground. One such nest contained seven individuals. In eastern Paraguay it has usually been captured in vegetation but sometimes has been caught on the ground. This marsupial is found throughout the Brazilian cerrado, usually associated with mesic areas such as gallery forests. This mouse opossum is reported to have up to twelve young. Females lack a true pouch, and the teats remain hidden when the female is not lactating.

References

  1. ^ a b Gardner, Alfred L. (16 November 2005). "Order Didelphimorphia (pp. 3-18)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 6-7. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=10400052. 
  2. ^ Carmignotto, A., Solari, S., de la Sancha, N. & Costa, L. (2011). "Gracilinanus agilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/9417. Retrieved 18 January 2012.  Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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