Feb 15, 2014
Long-nosed Caenolestid (Rhyncholestes raphanurus)
Also known as the long-nosed shrew opossum, the long-nosed caenolestid is one of the six surviving species of the shrew-opossums (Paucituverculata) a group of marsupials native to South America. Long-nosed caenolestids occur in Chile and Argentina and typically inhabit old growth evergreen temperate forests. Like other species of shrew opossums R. raphanurus is a carnivore and feeds mainly on earthworms and insects which. R. raphanurus is active at night and has poor eyesight, instead relying on its hearing and whiskers to locate prey.
Classification
Animalia-Chordata-Mammalia-Marsupialia-Paucituberculata-Caenolestidae-Rhyncholestes-R. raphanurus
Image(s): P. L. Meserve