Southern Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides) lives in temperate rainforest across South America. It feeds on insects and fruit. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
Fascinating facts about the Southern Monito del Monte
- The monito del monte's known range leapt farther south when researchers found a new population about 100 km beyond the old limit. Until recently, the southern distribution limit of D. gliroides was thought to extend as far as Futaleufú in Chile (~43° S). Here, we document a new population approximately 100 km southwards, near Río Figueroa in central Patagonia (44° S). This pushes the species into colder, more seasonal forest, showing its resilience and flagging these southern groups as vital genetic refuges as climate shifts.
- Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stretches over more than 259,000 hectares (642,000 acres) and shelters the monito del monte among other endemics. In January, two major fires ignited in Chubut province, threatening the park's ancient forests. Early estimates said around 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of forest and grassland were destroyed, with later estimates as high as 21,000 hectares (52,000 acres). The park's loss underscores how fire can endanger the fragile habitats this marsupial depends on.
- The monito del monte stands alone as the only living member of an ancient marsupial order. It was first described by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1894, giving it a scientific name that blends "the Latin glis, gliris ("dormouse", more generally "rodent") and Greek oides ("similar to"). This lineage links South American marsupials to their Australian cousins, making the species a living bridge in marsupial evolution.
- Wildfire season in Chile sent dozens of monito del monte opossums to a rehabilitation center with severe burns. Researchers stress that Their loss would thin forest regeneration.
- A recent anatomical study revealed that the monito del monte has a uniquely enlarged chewing muscle complex.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouth America
HabitatTemperate rainforest
DietInsects and fruit
About the Southern Monito del Monte
In the misty, temperate rainforests of South America, the Southern Monito del Monte navigates its arboreal realm with an air of quiet purpose, its large, round eyes drinking in the dappled light that filters through the canopy above. As it moves through the trees, its soft, greyish-brown fur blending seamlessly into the shadows, this tiny, opossum-like marsupial embodies a unique blend of adaptability and reclusiveness, its very existence a testament to the secrets that still linger in the unexplored recesses of our planet. With its ability to survive in a variety of habitats, from dense forest to open scrubland, the Monito del Monte is a remarkable example of resilience in a rapidly changing world.
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