Because this species is small and nocturnal, communication between individuals is likely primarily olfactory in nature. Palma (1997) reports that the olfactory and visual regions of another Thylamys species' brain are especially well developed.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical
This species is listed as "Data Deficient" by the IUCN.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: data deficient
There are no known negative effects of Thylamys venustus on humans.
There are no known positive effects of Thylamys venustus on humans.
Thylamys venustus likely acts as an important predator to many arthropod species and perhaps some small vertebrates. It is likely prey to both bird and medium-sized mammals, such as owls and foxes. It is also likely host to many ecto- and endoparasites. More specific information about the ecosystem role of Thylamys venustus is not presently available.
Little is known about the food habits of this species. Like other Thylamys species, Thylamys venustus likely consumes insects and perhaps occasionally eats small vertebrates, leaves, fruit, seeds, and carrion (Palma 1997).
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Thylamys venustus is distributed at low- to mid-elevations in the Andes from Central Bolivia southward into northern Argentina.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
Thylamys venustus primarily inhabits mid-level montane forests and seasonally dry forests between 350 and 4000 meters above sea level in the eastern Andes. This species overlaps in distribution with Thylamys sponsorius, Thylamys pallidior, and Thylamys pusillus.
Range elevation: 350 to 4000 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; mountains
No records of lifespan in this species are available.
Like other members of its genus, Thylamys venustus is notable for its incrassate (fattened) tail. The size of the tail varies by season in accordance with food availability. Although this species is a marsupial, females do not have a pouch. This species is tricolored, with darker dorsal fur, paler lateral fur, and a grayish ventral region. This species is very similar in morphology to its sister species Thylamys sponsorius, though it tends to be slightly smaller. Like Thylamys sponsorius, this species has a relatively long tail that is considerably longer than its body. Giarla et al. (2010) report head and body lengths that range from 84 to 110 mm (average 96 mm) and tail lengths that range from 111 to 138 mm long (average 126 mm).
Range length: 195 to 248 mm.
Average length: 222 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Like other small mammals, Thylamys venustus is likely well adapted to avoiding predators by being nocturnal and inconspicuous. No records of known predators are available.
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Little is known about the mating system in Thylamys venustus.
Little is known about the general reproductive behavior of Thylamys venustus.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Little is known about parental investment in Thylamys venustus. Like all marsupials, females nurse their highly altricial young. However, because members of the genus Thylamys lack a pouch (marsupium), the young must cling to their mother's venter.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
The buff-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum (Thylamys venustus) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae.[3] It is found in the transitional and humid forests of northern Argentina and southern Bolivia.[1] Its dorsal fur is cinnamon brown. Most of its ventral fur is gray-based, but its chest, throat, and the thoracic midline (the midline of the thorax, which ranges from the throat to the top of the abdomen) are not gray-based. The postorbital ridges are absent in the young and weakly developed in adults.[4]
Initially classed as a Marmosa elegans subspecies,[5] it was subsequently raised to species status in 1933.[6] There are four synonyms: Marmosa elegans venusta (Thomas, 1902, Cochabamba), Marmosa elegans cinderella (Thomas, 1902, Tucumán Province), Marmosa elegans sponsoria (Thomas, 1921, Jujuy Province) and Marmosa janetta (Thomas, 1926, Tarija Department) with cinderella and sponsoria actually being one taxon and a subspecies of venustus; janetta is the largest of all and has cream-white ventral fur with plumbeous bases.[7]
Its conservation status is not exactly known; it occurs in an area currently being developed, and while its range overlaps several protected areas, it is uncertain if it occurs in any of them.
The buff-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum (Thylamys venustus) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in the transitional and humid forests of northern Argentina and southern Bolivia. Its dorsal fur is cinnamon brown. Most of its ventral fur is gray-based, but its chest, throat, and the thoracic midline (the midline of the thorax, which ranges from the throat to the top of the abdomen) are not gray-based. The postorbital ridges are absent in the young and weakly developed in adults.
Initially classed as a Marmosa elegans subspecies, it was subsequently raised to species status in 1933. There are four synonyms: Marmosa elegans venusta (Thomas, 1902, Cochabamba), Marmosa elegans cinderella (Thomas, 1902, Tucumán Province), Marmosa elegans sponsoria (Thomas, 1921, Jujuy Province) and Marmosa janetta (Thomas, 1926, Tarija Department) with cinderella and sponsoria actually being one taxon and a subspecies of venustus; janetta is the largest of all and has cream-white ventral fur with plumbeous bases.
Its conservation status is not exactly known; it occurs in an area currently being developed, and while its range overlaps several protected areas, it is uncertain if it occurs in any of them.
