Dwarf Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum
Encyclopedia
The Dwarf Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys velutinus), also known as the Velvety Fat-tailed Opossum is an opossum species
from South America
. It is endemic to Brazil
, where it is found in cerrado
and caatinga
habitats. Its head-and-body length is about 141-212 (average 173.3) mm, and its tail length is about 73-85 (average 78) mm. Its diet is 44% arthropods; 75% of its diet consists of animals and animal products. Its ventral
fur is entirely gray-based. Its hind foot is less than 14 mm, which is short for the genus.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It is endemic to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where it is found in cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
and caatinga
Caatinga
Caatinga is a type of vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in the northeastern part of Brazil. The name "Caatinga" is a Tupi word meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation"...
habitats. Its head-and-body length is about 141-212 (average 173.3) mm, and its tail length is about 73-85 (average 78) mm. Its diet is 44% arthropods; 75% of its diet consists of animals and animal products. Its ventral
Anatomical terms of location
Standard anatomical terms of location are designations employed in science that deal with the anatomy of animals to avoid ambiguities that might otherwise arise. They are not language-specific, and thus require no translation...
fur is entirely gray-based. Its hind foot is less than 14 mm, which is short for the genus.