Monodelphis domestica

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	DIDELPHIMORPHIA	DIDELPHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Monodelphis domestica

Species Authority:

(Wagner, 1842)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Grey Short-tailed Opossum, Gray Short-tailed Opossum
French	–	Opossum-musaraigne gris
Spanish	–	Colicorto Gris

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2011

Assessor/s:

Vilela, J., Solari, S., Flores, D., de la Sancha, N. & Astua de Moraes, D.

Reviewer/s:

Teta, P. & Chiozza, F.

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, tolerance to some degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is distributed in eastern and central Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and north Argentina (Gardner 2007). In Paraguay is extremely abundant in the Chaco region in western Paraguay, but the records from Argentina are scarce.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Paraguay
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Monodelphis domestica is common in the wild (Eisenberg and Redford 1999, Emmons and Feer 1997). In Paraguay is abundant in the Chaco region in western Paraguay, but the records from Argentina are scarce.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Primarily found in xeric situations, this species has been trapped in grassy areas, brush piles, and among jumbled rocks in a dry riverbed. It is also tolerant of man-made clearings. It is an accomplished predator, feeding primarily on invertebrates (Eisenberg and Redford 1999). Extensive work on colony animals has made M. domestica one of the best studied of the South American small opossums. In captivity this species breeds throughout the year, and some females produce four litters a year, some studies suggest up to six litters. The female builds a compact, complicated nest, carrying nesting material with her tail. Gestation lasts fourteen or fifteen days; young are born at about 0.10 g; litter size is three to fourteen, with an average of seven; and the oestrous cycle is twenty-eight days. Other studies give age of first reproduction is five to seven months, and a litter range from 6 to 11 with an average of 8.4. Young are attached to the nipple for about two weeks and then enter a nest phase. The female does not have a pouch but will transport young on her back. Young eat solid food at four to five weeks, can be separated from the females at seven weeks, and can reproduce at fifteen months. In captivity males often weigh considerably more than females.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Primarily found in xeric situations, this species has been trapped in grassy areas, brush piles, and among jumbled rocks in a dry riverbed. It is also tolerant of man-made clearings. It is an accomplished predator, feeding primarily on invertebrates (Eisenberg and Redford 1999). Extensive work on colony animals has made M. domestica one of the best studied of the South American small opossums. In captivity this species breeds throughout the year, and some females produce four litters a year, some studies suggest up to six litters. The female builds a compact, complicated nest, carrying nesting material with her tail. Gestation lasts fourteen or fifteen days; young are born at about 0.10 g; litter size is three to fourteen, with an average of seven; and the oestrous cycle is twenty-eight days. Other studies give age of first reproduction is five to seven months, and a litter range from 6 to 11 with an average of 8.4. Young are attached to the nipple for about two weeks and then enter a nest phase. The female does not have a pouch but will transport young on her back. Young eat solid food at four to five weeks, can be separated from the females at seven weeks, and can reproduce at fifteen months. In captivity males often weigh considerably more than females.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range.

Conservation Actions:

The species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range.

Citation:	Vilela, J., Solari, S., Flores, D., de la Sancha, N. & Astua de Moraes, D. 2011. Monodelphis domestica. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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