#microbiotheria

Mastering the Monito del Monte

The Monito del Monte, also known as the colocolo opossum (Dromiciops gliroides) is a species of marsupial native to the central Andes mountains in Chile and western Argeninta. They are found exclusively in old-growth temperate rainforests, specifically those where southern beeches and Chilean bamboo are abundant. Despite their common name, they are not true opossums, but rather the only surviving member of the ancient order Microbiotheria.

Monito del Montes are almost entirely arboreal and nocturnal in nature. They are phenomenal climbers, thanks to their prehensile tails and large hands. They consume a variety of insects and fruits, particularly larvae, moths and butterflies, and mistletoe fruits. Despite their arboreal nature, they have a number of predators including grey foxes, Darwin's foxes, barn owls, and wild cats.

Colocolo opossums are monogamous, at least for the duration of the breeding season. Mating begins in late winter or spring spring, and continues from August to November. Females construct small nests lined with moss and Chilean bamboo high in the trees. After mating, gestation takes approximately 3-4 weeks. Up to 4 newborns then climb into their mother's pouch and attach themselves to their mother's teats. During this time, the mother remains active. Her young are weaned and leave the pouch after about 2 months, though they typically remain in the nest until late December. Juveniles become sexually mature at 2 years old; their full lifespan is unknown.

D. gliroides is a very small mammal; their snout-to-rump length is 8-13 cm (3.27 to 5.12 in), and the tail is the about same length as their body. Adults weigh between 16–42 g (0.56–1.48 oz); females tend to be larger than males. Both sexes are covered in brownish gray fur, white on the underside. They have very large eyes and ears, which helps them to navigate more effectively at night.

Conservation status: The Monito del Monte is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN. They are threatened primarily by habitat destruction, as they rely on stands of Chilean bamboo for their food and nests. They are also under increased predation pressure from introduced feral cats.

Photos

Roberto F. Nespolo

José Luis Bartheld

Monito del Monte Dromiciops gliroides

Also known as the colocolo opossum, a marsupial native only Argentina and Chile. It is the sole New World representative of the superorder Australidelphia, being more closely related to Australian marsupials than to other American marsupials. It lives in thickets of South American mountain bamboo in the Valdivian temperate forests of the southern Andes.

Diprotodontia. This order is the most specious order of marsupials, containing, among others, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and sugar gliders.

Microbiotheria. This order contains only one species, the Monito del monte, a small tree-dwelling marsupial that lives in southwestern South America

"Erdferkel," Plate 14 in Brehms thierleben, allgemeine kunde des thierreichs, 1876-9. Biodiversity Heritage Library.

#DYK the Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is the only living representative of an entire ORDER of mammals, Tubulidentata? This helped it score as the #1 most evolutionarily distinctive (ED) mammal on ZSL's EDGE of Existence list:

Monito Del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides)

...is the sole surviving member of the ancient order of marsupials known as Microbiotheria. The monito del monte is native to southwestern South America and frequents bamboo and rainforests. These small mouse-like marsupials are primarily arboreal and comb trees at night for insects, fruit and other small invertebrates. Like most marsupials the monito del monte does indeed have a pouch where young are nursed until they are mature enough to leave. The monito del monte also plays an important role as a seed disperser and has a relationship with the plant Tristerix corymbosus. As the montio del monte is the biggest consumer of the plants fruit, and through that it disperses the plants seeds. The montio del monte is the sole disperser of T.corymbosus and it is thought it would go extinct with out its marsupial counterpart.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Chordata-Mammalia-Marsupialia-Australidelphia-Microbiotheria-Microbiotheriidae-Dromiciops-gliroides