Grayish Mouse Opossum
Encyclopedia
The grayish mouse opossum (Tlacuatzin canescens, formerly Marmosa canescens) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae, and is the sole member of the genus Tlacuatzin.
It is endemic to Mexico
from southern Sonora
to Oaxaca
, with populations also on the Islas Marías
and in the central Yucatán Peninsula
.
This opossum occupies seasonally arid habitat
s, especially mixed deciduous forests, up to an elevation of 2100 m. It is semiarboreal, being more terrestrial in its habits than other mouse opossums. The species has a fairly omnivorous diet, consuming insects and other small animals, eggs and fruit. It builds nests, generally in forks or hollows of trees, bushes or cacti, or in rock crevices and rarely on the ground. It may also use abandoned birds' nests. Breeding occurs in late summer and early autumn, with litter size ranging from 8 to 13.
It is endemic to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
from southern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
to Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, with populations also on the Islas Marías
Islas Marías
The Islas Marías are an archipelago of four islands that belong to Mexico. They are located in the Pacific Ocean, some off the coast of the state of Nayarit. They are part of the municipality of San Blas, Nayarit...
and in the central Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
.
This opossum occupies seasonally arid habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s, especially mixed deciduous forests, up to an elevation of 2100 m. It is semiarboreal, being more terrestrial in its habits than other mouse opossums. The species has a fairly omnivorous diet, consuming insects and other small animals, eggs and fruit. It builds nests, generally in forks or hollows of trees, bushes or cacti, or in rock crevices and rarely on the ground. It may also use abandoned birds' nests. Breeding occurs in late summer and early autumn, with litter size ranging from 8 to 13.