Marmosa
Encyclopedia
The nine species in the genus
Marmosa are relatively small Neotropic members of the order
Didelphimorphia
. This genus is one of four that are known as mouse opossums. The others are Micoureus
(the "woolly mouse opossums"), Thylamys
(the "fat-tailed mouse opossums") and Tlacuatzin, the grayish mouse opossum. Members of the genus Marmosops
used to be called "slender mouse opossums", but are now just called "slender opossums".
Mouse opossums are generally found in rainforests as they scavenge bromeliad
s for food.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Marmosa are relatively small Neotropic members of the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Didelphimorphia
Didelphimorphia
Opossums make up the largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, including 103 or more species in 19 genera. They are also commonly called possums, though that term technically refers to Australian fauna of the suborder Phalangeriformes. The Virginia opossum was the first animal to be...
. This genus is one of four that are known as mouse opossums. The others are Micoureus
Micoureus
Micoureus is a genus of Neotropic opossums of the family Didelphidae. It includes the following species:* Alston's Mouse Opossum * White-bellied Woolly Mouse Opossum...
(the "woolly mouse opossums"), Thylamys
Thylamys
Thylamys is a genus of opossum in the family Didelphidae. The premaxillae are rounded rather than pointed. The females lack a pouch. The females' nipples are arranged in two symmetrical rows on the abdomen All species but T...
(the "fat-tailed mouse opossums") and Tlacuatzin, the grayish mouse opossum. Members of the genus Marmosops
Marmosops
Marmosops is a genus of Neotropic opossums of the family Didelphidae. It includes the following species:* Genus Marmosops** Bishop's Slender Opossum ** Narrow-headed Slender Opossum...
used to be called "slender mouse opossums", but are now just called "slender opossums".
Mouse opossums are generally found in rainforests as they scavenge bromeliad
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae is a family of monocot flowering plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas, with a few species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana...
s for food.