Linnaeus's mouse opossum
{{Short description|Species of marsupial}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Linnaeus's mouse opossum{{MSW3 Didelphimorphia |id = 10400077 |page = 9}}
| image = Marmosa murina 138138939.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Marmosa
| parent = Marmosa (Marmosa)
| species = murina
| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
| range_map = Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum area.png
| range_map_caption = Linnaeus's mouse opossum range
| synonyms = Didelphis murina Linnaeus, 1758
Didelphis dorsigera Linnaeus, 1758
}}
Linnaeus's mouse opossum (Marmosa murina), also known as the common or murine mouse opossum, is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae.
Range and habitat
Its range includes Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and eastern Bolivia.{{Cite web |title=Marmosa murina (Linnaeus, 1758) |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/2439873 |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}}
This opossum is most commonly sighted near forest streams and human habitation. A nocturnal creature, it shelters during the day in a mesh of twigs on a tree branch, a tree hole, or an old bird's nest.
Behavior
It eats insects, spiders, lizards, bird's eggs, chicks, and fruits.
Linnaeus's mouse opossum has a gestation period of approximately 13 days, and gives birth to 5–10 young.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum - Marmosa Murina - Animal Information |url=https://animalinformation.com/animal/linnaeuss-mouse-opossum/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=animalinformation.com |language=en-US}}
The mouse opossum will "play dead" if it thinks that it is in danger, it will even smell as if it were dead.
Description
It is pale beige to grey on its underparts with short, smooth fur. Its face appears to have a black mask on it, its eyes are prominent, and its ears are very upright. Its tail, which females use to carry leaves, is much longer than the rest of its body.
Linnaeus's mouse opossum has a body length of approximately {{convert|11|-|14.5|cm}}, with a tail of approximately {{convert|13.5|-|21|cm|abbr=on}} long. It weighs about {{convert|250|g}}.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Didelphimorphia|D.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q194675}}
Category:Marsupials of Bolivia
Category:Marsupials of Colombia
Category:Marsupials of Ecuador
Category:Mammals of French Guiana
Category:Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago
Category:Mammals of the Caribbean