Conservation Biogeography of Living American Marsupials: Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata

Abstract

Living American marsupials comprise ca. 130 species included in three orders, extending from northern North America (Canada-US border) to southern Argentina (48 South), with a higher richness in tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, declining with increasing latitude. The influence of climate throughout their evolution resulted in a distinctive, yet poorly studied chorology. The distribution patterns and main climatic constraints that shape American marsupial distribution are described, this information is integrated with their global conservation status generating comparative maps at different taxonomic categories (e.g., order, subfamily, tribe, genus), and the areas with the highest conservation value for them are described.