Ampliación del rango altitudinal de Marmosa lepida (Thomas, 1888) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) en el sureste de Ecuador

Abstract

Extension of altitudinal range of Marmosa lepida (Thomas, 1888) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in southeastern Ecuador The Rufous mouse opossum Marmosa lepida is the smallest in the genus Marmosa and one of the least understood and studied. An expedition to the mountains of Kutukú, in southeastern Ecuador, revealed an adult male specimen which was collected while descending from a tree. The information presented here extends the altitudinal range to 1581 meters above sea level at the crest of a ridge in the Kutukú range, and represents the sixth documented locality in Ecuador. The difficulty of trapping and registering some small mammals with conventional methods hinders knowledge of the distribution of many poorly known species and consequently the application of measures for conservation action.