Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

All members of genus Caenolestes are found within the northern Andes Mountains. Blackish shrew opossums (Caenolestes convelatus) are found within two ranges, western Columbia as well as north central Ecuador. Ranges of blackish shrew opossums and their close relative, gray-bellied shrew opossums (Caenolestes caniventer), overlap, both species are found primarily in the Pacific slopes of the Andes Mountains. (Albuja and Patterson, 1996; Lunde and Pacheco, 2003; Patterson and Gomez-Laverde, 2008)

• Biogeographic Regions
• neotropical
  • native

Habitat

Blackish shrew opossums reside in subtropical and montane forests of the Andes Slopes. They are found in several elevations. In their Columbian range, they can be found from 1,800 to 3,800 meters. In their Ecuadorian range they are typically found from 1,100 to 2,980 meters, but have been found as high as 4,100 meters. These animals prefer cool wet areas and create channels under root systems, along streams in wet grasslands. (Albuja and Patterson, 1996; Barnett, 1991; Patterson and Gomez-Laverde, 2008; Tate, 1931; Timm and Patterson, 2008)

• Habitat Regions
• tropical
• terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• forest
• mountains

• Range elevation

  1,100 to 4,100 m

  to ft

Physical Description

Blackish shrew opossums are marsupials; they are somewhat shrew-like in appearance, with elongated faces. Their appearance is very similar to their close relative, gray-bellied shrew opossums (Caenolestes caniventer). Both have very coarse, dark dorsal pelage, with relatively long fur (about 10 mm long); however, blackish shrew opossums have larger molars. This species has a total body length of about 256 mm, including a tail length of about 124 mm and they weigh about 40 grams. (Lunde and Pacheco, 2003; Osgood and Herrick, 1921; Tirira, 2007)

In general, members of family Caenolestidae can be distinguished from other marsupial groups by their unique dentition. They have a reduced number of incisors and their lower middle incisors are large and have a forward slope. The dental formula for genus Caenolestes is: I 4/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 4/4, 46 teeth total. Their tail is long, about as long as their body, and appears rat-like and hairless, although it is covered in white fur. While their tail is not prehensile, it is used for support while they climb. Shrew opossums have short robust limbs, each containing 5 digits; their middle 3 digits are shorter than the outside 2. Their humeri are extremely heavy; in comparison, their femurs are relatively slender. Members of family Caenolestidae have unusual lip flaps, which may function as a method of preventing debris from interfering with their whiskers or they may help prevent ingestion of unwanted debris. Similar to other marsupials, Caenolestid females have 2 uteri and 2 vaginas. Members of genus Caenolestes lack a pouch but do have 4 mammae, 2 on either side of their abdomen. (Albuja and Patterson, 1996; Lee and Cockburn, 1985; O'Connell, 2006; Osgood and Herrick, 1921; Tirira, 2007)

Common shrew opossums (Caenolestes obscurus), a close relative of blackish shrew opossums, show evidence of a low metabolic rate, based on their body temperature (35.4° C), their body weight (about 40 g), their cool habitat and their thick fur coat. This species shows no evidence of entering torpor. (McNab, 1978)

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• male larger

• Average mass

  40 g

  1.41 oz

• Average length

  256 (including the tail) mm

  in

Reproduction

There is currently little information available regarding the mating system of blackish shrew opossums.

Female blackish shrew opossums lack a marsupium; however, immature individuals may have an undeveloped fold of skin that they lose before reaching maturity. Females have 4 mammae available for their young to nurse. Evidence suggests that Caenolestid females have the same number of ova as mammae, unlike family Didelphidae. In support of that notion, a female was found pregnant with 3 embryos, 2 in the right uterus and 1 in the left. These animals likely have one annual breeding season from February to August. (O'Connell, 2006; Osgood and Herrick, 1921; Tirira, 2007; Tyndale-Biscoe and Renfree, 1987)

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• viviparous

• Breeding interval

  Members of family Caenolestidae likely breed once per year.

• Breeding season

  The breeding season of family Caenolestidae is likely between February and August.

No information is currently available regarding this species.

Lifespan/Longevity

There is currently no information on the longevity of blackish shrew opossums.

Behavior

Members of genus Caenolestes are solitary; they are primarily active during the early evening and at night. They are terrestrial, but they are also adept climbers. During the day, these animals stay in tunnels under tree roots. When they are active, they travel through paths in dense vegetation. (O'Connell, 2006; Patterson and Solari, 2008; Timm and Patterson, 2008; Tirira, 2007)

• Key Behaviors
• terricolous
• nocturnal
• crepuscular
• motile
• solitary

Home Range

There is currently no information available about the individual home range of blackish shrew opossums.

Communication and Perception

Members of family Caenolestidae have very small eyes and poor eyesight. Their unusual lip flaps have the hypothesized function of clearing debris from their sensitive vibrissae, but they may merely function as a method of preventing the ingestion of unwanted debris. Their somewhat primitive brains have enlarged olfactory bulbs, which could indicate an enhanced sense of smell. When they are startled they attempt to hide and they hiss when cornered. Caenolestids are not noted for frequent production of sound, however, captive individuals may make several sounds including whistles, bird-like screams, rat-like squeaks and drawing air through their incisors. (Hume, 1982; Kirsch and Waller, 1979; O'Connell, 2006; Vaughan, et al., 2011)

• Communication Channels
• tactile
• acoustic

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• chemical

Food Habits

Members of genus Caenolestes are opportunistic feeders. Their stomach contents indicate that they are primarily insectivores. Ingested invertebrates include beetles, crickets, butterfly larvae, centipedes, grasshoppers, spiders, and earthworms. A smaller proportion of their diet is composed of vegetation, fruit and small vertebrates including juvenile mice. They forage for food in moss and leaf litter. When they find a food item, they manipulate and consume it with their forepaws, from a semi-seated position. As Caenolestids shear their food with their incisors, they produce a clicking sound. (Barkley and Whitaker, 1984; Patterson and Solari, 2008; Timm and Patterson, 2008; Tirira, 2007)

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
  • insectivore

• Animal Foods
• mammals
• insects
• terrestrial non-insect arthropods
• terrestrial worms

• Plant Foods
• leaves
• fruit

Predation

There is currently little information regarding the predation of blackish shrew opossums. However, there are several carnivores known to inhabit a similar range and prey upon small mammals, such predators include Andean Mountain cats (Leopardus jacobita), pampas cats (Leopardus colocolo), culpeo foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus) and cougars (puma concolor), among others. (Lucherini, et al., 2009)

Ecosystem Roles

Blackish shrew opossums have an insectivorous diet. Likewise, Caenolestids are often plagued by lice of the genus Cummingsia. Interestingly, Australian marsupials are also affected by similar lice, related to the family level. Caenolestids may also become infested with South American hard ticks (Ixodes jonesae). (Barkley and Whitaker, 1984; Lee and Cockburn, 1985; Tirira, 2007; VanZolini and Guimaraes, 1955)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Due to their human-inaccessible habitat, there has been very little study of these animals. Likewise, there has been very little interaction between human and shrew opossum populations. They may, however, serve as a control of insect populations. (Kirsch and Waller, 1979)

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known negative effects of blackish shrew opossums on human populations.

Conservation Status

Blackish shrew opossums are currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. This species is susceptible to habitat fragmentation, specifically in the northern portion of their range. (Patterson and Gomez-Laverde, 2008)

• IUCN Red List

  Vulnerable

• US Federal List

  No special status

• CITES

  No special status

• State of Michigan List

  No special status

Contributors

Leila Siciliano Martina (author), Animal Diversity Web Staff.

References

Albuja, L., B. Patterson. 1996. A new species of northern shrew-opossum (Paucituberculata:Caenolestidae) from the Cordillera del Condor, Ecuador. Journal of Mammalogy, 77:1: 41-53.

Barkley, L., J. Whitaker. 1984. Confirmation of Caenolestes in Peru with information on diet. Journal of Mammalogy, 65:2: 328-330.

Barnett, A. 1991. Records of the grey-bellied shrew opossum, Caenolestes caniventer and Tate's shrew opossum, Caenolestes tatei (Caenolestidae, Marsupialia), from Ecuadorian montane forests. Mammalia, 55:3: 443-445.

Hume, I. 1982. Digestive physiology and nutrition of marsupials. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kirsch, J., P. Waller. 1979. Notes on the trapping and behavior of the Caenolestidae (Marsupialia). Journal of Mammalogy, 60:2: 390-395.

Lee, A., A. Cockburn. 1985. Evolutionary ecology of marsupials. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lucherini, M., J. Reppucci, R. Walker, M. Villalba, A. Wurstten, G. Gallardo, A. Iriarte, R. Villalobos, P. Perovic. 2009. Activity pattern of segregation of carnivores in the high Andes. Journal of Mammalogy, 90:6: 1404-1409.

Lunde, D., V. Pacheco. 2003. Shrew opossums (Paucituberculata:Caenolestes) from the Huancamba region of east Andean Peru. Mammal Study, 28: 145-148.

McNab, B. 1978. The comparative energetics of Neotropical marsupials. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 125: 115-128.

O'Connell, M. 2006. Shrew opossums of the high Andes. Pp. 812 in D MacDonald, S Norris, eds. The Encyclopedia of Mammals, Vol. 1, 1 Edition. London: The Brown Reference Group.

Osgood, W., C. Herrick. 1921. A monographic study of the American marsupial, Caenolestes. Chicago: The University of Chicago.

Patterson, B., M. Gomez-Laverde. 2008. "Caenolestes convelatus" (On-line). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed April 22, 2013 at www.iucnredlist.org.

Patterson, B., S. Solari. 2008. "Caenolestes caniventer" (On-line). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed April 17, 2013 at www.iucnredlist.org.

Tate, G. 1931. Random observations on habits of South American mammals. Journal of Mammalogy, 12:3: 248-256.

Timm, R., B. Patterson. 2008. Genus Caenolestes. Pp. 120-124 in A Gardner, ed. Mammals of South America: Volume 1- Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats, Vol. 1. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Tirira, D. 2007. Mamiferos del Ecuado: Guia de campo. Ecuador: Ediciones Murcielago Blanco.

Tyndale-Biscoe, H., M. Renfree. 1987. Reproductive physiology of Marsupials. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

VanZolini, P., L. Guimaraes. 1955. South American land mammals and their lice. Evolution, 9:3: 345-347.

Vaughan, T., J. Ryan, N. Czaplewski. 2011. Mammalogy. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Barnett Publishing.