The South American gracile mouse opossums, genus Gracilinanus Gardner and Creighton, 1989 (Marmosidae, Marsupialia): a taxonomic review with notes on general morphology and relationships

Abstract

Nine species are recognized, three described as new. As setting for the descriptions and discussions, extant genera of mouse opossums are arranged within five subfamilies of the family Marmosidae (new), as follows: Marmosinae (new), Thylamyinae (new), Lestodelphyinae (new), Monodelphinae (new rank), and Metachirinae (new rank). The Marmosinae, represented by the genera Gracilinanus, Marmosa, Marmosops, and Micoureus, are pouchless, prehensile-tailed didelphoids. Diagnostic keys are offered. -from Author