Chilean Shrew Opossum
Rhyncholestes raphanurus
- Near threatened
- Card rarity: Uncommon
- Mammals
The long-nosed caenolestid, also known as the Chilean shrew opossum or long-nosed shrew opossum, is a shrew opossum that occurs in temperate forests of Argentina and southern Chile. It was first described by American zoologist Wilfred Hudson Osgood in 1924. The long-nosed caenolestid resembles Caenolestes species in morphology. It is characterized by a long, pointed snout, small eyes and ears, and one claw on a digit of each of the thin limbs. Little is known of its behavior; it appears to be terrestrial, nocturnal and omnivorous. It prefers cool, moist areas, and has a small distribution. It is classified as near threatened by the IUCN.
Classification
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Paucituberculata
- Family
- Caenolestidae
- Genus
- Rhyncholestes