''Monodelphis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomencla ...

marsupial Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsupials are endemic to Australasia, Wallacea and the Americas. A distinctive characteristic common to most of these species is that the young are carried in a ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideall ...

Didelphidae, commonly referred to as short-tailed opossums. They are found throughout South America. , the most recently described species is ''M. vossi''.

Species

* Sepia short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis adusta'') * Northern three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis americana'') * Arlindo's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis arlindoi'') * Northern red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis brevicaudata'') * Yellow-sided opossum (''Monodelphis dimidiata'') *

Gray short-tailed opossum The gray short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis domestica'') is a small South American member of the family Didelphidae. Unlike most other marsupials, the gray short-tailed opossum does not have a true pouch. The scientific name ''Monodelphis'' is ...

(''Monodelphis domestica'') * Emilia's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis emiliae'') * Gardner's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis gardneri'') * Amazonian red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis glirina'') * Ihering's three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis iheringi'') * Pygmy short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis kunsi'') * Marajó short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis maraxina'') * Osgood's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis osgoodi'') * Hooded red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis palliolata'') * Peruvian short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis peruviana'') * Long-nosed short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis pinocchio'') * Reig's opossum (''Monodelphis reigi'') * Ronald's opossum (''Monodelphis ronaldi'') * Chestnut-striped opossum (''Monodelphis rubida'') * Saci short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis saci'') * Santa Rosa short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis sanctaerosae'') * Long-nosed short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis scalops'') * Southern red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis sorex'') * Touan short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis touan'') * Southern three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis theresa'') * Red three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis umbristriata'') * One-striped opossum (''Monodelphis unistriata'') * Voss's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis vossi'') Speciation is based on fur coloration with additional details coming from differences in the skull and teeth.

Chemoreception Communication

Short-tailed opossums have been found to use nuzzling as a chemosensory and exploratory behavior in recognizing individuals of the same species. In ''Monodelphis domestica'', nuzzling and snout-rubbing transforms odor from dry components like glandular secretions, feces, and urine, into moist naso-oral secretions that reach the vomernasal organ to be processed chemically. Typically, this behavior is used to recognize individual familiar or new scents from the same species, with males typically being drawn to more novel scents from the same species. The vomeronasal organ is thus becoming an importantly recognized organ used in the social communication of these animals.

Conservation status

''M. sorex'' and ''M. rubida'' are considered to be endangered.

Reproductive development

The genus ''Monodelphis'' is marsupial; they are born under-developed and then mature further in the mother's pouch. In ''Monodelphis'', the young first come off the teat in 12 days, whereas this occurs at 48 days in the related genus ''Didelphis''. Most of the events in this process occur about 2–4 weeks later in ''Didelphis'' than in ''Monodelphis''. This may be related to the shorter longevity of the species of ''Monodelphis'' compared to other marsupials who nurse for a longer period. ''M. dimidiata'' is unusual in that it is a

semelparous Semelparity and iteroparity are two contrasting reproductive strategies available to living organisms. A species is considered semelparous if it is characterized by a single reproductive episode before death, and iteroparous if it is characteri ...

species, something rarely seen in mammals, being found predominantly in smaller didelphids and dasyurids.

References

External links