Because this species is small and nocturnal, communication between individuals is likely primarily olfactory in nature. Palma (1997) reports that the olfactory and visual regions of another Thylamys species' brain are especially well developed.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical
There is not enough data to properly evaluate the conservation status of Thylamys tatei. As such, it is listed as "Data Deficient" by the IUCN.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: data deficient
There are no known negative effects of Thylamys tatei.
There are no known positive impacts of Thylamys tatei on humans.
Thylamys tatei likely acts as an important predator to many arthropod species and perhaps some small vertebrates. It is likely prey to both bird and medium-sized mammals, such as owls and foxes. It is also likely host to many ecto- and endoparasites. More specific information about the ecosystem role of Thylamys tatei is not presently available.
Little is known about the food habits of this species. Like other Thylamys species, Thylamys tatei likely consumes insects and perhaps occasionally eats small vertebrates, leaves, fruit, seeds, and carrion (Palma 1997).
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Museum records of this species are sparse. Presently, Thylamys tatei appears to be restricted to the provinces of Ancash and Lima in Peru.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
This species has been recorded in mountainous and desert habitats in a small part of central Peru. It has been captured from 300 to 3000 meters above sea level.
Range elevation: 300 to 3000 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; mountains
No record of this species' lifespan is available.
Like other members of its genus, Thylamys tatei is notable for its incrassate (fattened) tail. The size of the tail varies by season in accordance with food availability. Although this species is a marsupial, females do not have a pouch. This species is tricolored, with darker dorsal fur, paler lateral fur, and a white ventral region. This species is broadly similar to other members of the Elegans Group (which includes T. elegans, T. pallidior, and T. tatei) as described by Giarla et al. (2010). A single specimen of this rare species examined by Giarla et al. (2010) was recorded with a head + body lengths of 109 mm and tail length of 118 mm.
Average length: 227 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Like other small mammals, Thylamys tatei is likely well adapted to avoiding predators by being nocturnal and inconspicuous. No records of known predators are available.
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Little is known about the mating system in Thylamys tatei. For the closely related species Thylamys elegans, Palma (1997) reported that two adults have never been found in the same nest, suggesting that this species does not form monogamous breeding pairs.
Little is known about the reproductive behavior of this species. No records of its behavior have been published.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Little is known about parental investment in Thylamys tatei. Like all marsupials, females nurse their highly altricial young. However, because members of the genus Thylamys lack a pouch (marsupium), the young must cling to their mother's venter.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum (Thylamys tatei) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae,[2] named after American zoologist George Henry Hamilton Tate.[3] It is found at elevations of 300 to 3,000 m along the coast of central Peru.[1] The species has the northernmost range of any member of its genus.[1] It has white ventral fur and short condylobasal and zygomatic lengths. T. pallidior is very similar.[4]
Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum (Thylamys tatei) is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae, named after American zoologist George Henry Hamilton Tate. It is found at elevations of 300 to 3,000 m along the coast of central Peru. The species has the northernmost range of any member of its genus. It has white ventral fur and short condylobasal and zygomatic lengths. T. pallidior is very similar.
