Hyladelphys kalinowskiiin French Guiana: new observations and first notes on its nesting biology

Abstract

A series of 14 new observations of Hyladelphys kalinowskii (Didelphidae) provides novel natural history information about this rare Neotropical opossum, which appears to occur throughout French Guiana, from highly degraded forest patches of the littoral zone to large tracks of pristine primary forests in the interior. Six nests were found containing one to several individuals, including females with suckling young. It appears that the components (dry leaves, small twigs) of some nests are glued together with a whitish cement of unknown origin. Including previously reported records, a total of 18 individuals of H. kalinowskii have now been caught or observed in French Guiana. External and cranial measurements of five adult specimens are tabulated.

Mammalian Diversity and Matses Ethnomammalogy in Amazonian Peru Part 3: Marsupials (Didelphimorphia)

“…Peru-Cuzco, Hacienda 4 Although the original phrasing of the Matses conversation that elicited this information was not recorded, the usual term for leaf litter is shapu, which can either refer to a thick layer of dead leaves on the ground or to an accumulation of dead leaves in the crown of a stemless palm (typically 1-2 m above the ground). Unfortunately, this ambiguity cannot now be resolved, but the latter interpretation would be more consistent with what is currently known about the nesting habits of Hyladelphys (Catzeflis, 2018).…”

“…Other Interfluvial Records: None. Identification: This tiny marsupial, long unknown to science and only recently recognized as the sole survivor of an ancient lineage, is still represented by fewer than two dozen museum specimens despite its wide Amazonian distribution and apparent lack of habitat specificity (Hershkovitz, 1992;Voss et al, 2001;Jansa and Voss, 2005;Astúa, 2006;Hice and Velazco, 2012;Catzeflis, 2018). Our two specimens consist of the damaged skull of a juvenile that retains the diagnostically reduced milk dentition (Voss et al, 2001: figs.…”