Paraguayan Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum
Encyclopedia
The Paraguayan Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys macrurus) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in forested areas of Brazil
and Paraguay
. It is known only from a few specimens. For two listed specimens, one had a head-and-body length of about 135 mm and a tail length of about 140 mm, while the other had a head-and-body length of about 120 mm and a tail length of about 155 mm. Most of its fur
is gray, but the shoulder areas are reddish gray, and the ventral
fur
is pure white or creamy white. There is also a ring of black fur surrounding each eye
. The ventral
surface of the tail is white. The dorsal
surface of the tail is gray for the first one third to one half of its length (going from the base to the tip); the remainder of the dorsal
surface of the tail is white. The tail is hairless except for about its first ten mm (going from the base to the tip). Although the genus Thylamys
is characterized by fat storage in the tail, there is no evidence that this species stores fat in its tail.
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...
and Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. It is known only from a few specimens. For two listed specimens, one had a head-and-body length of about 135 mm and a tail length of about 140 mm, while the other had a head-and-body length of about 120 mm and a tail length of about 155 mm. Most of its fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
is gray, but the shoulder areas are reddish gray, and the 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
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
is pure white or creamy white. There is also a ring of black fur surrounding each eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
. The 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...
surface of the tail is white. The dorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
surface of the tail is gray for the first one third to one half of its length (going from the base to the tip); the remainder of the dorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
surface of the tail is white. The tail is hairless except for about its first ten mm (going from the base to the tip). Although the genus 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...
is characterized by fat storage in the tail, there is no evidence that this species stores fat in its tail.