Southernmost record for a living marsupial

Abstract

Marsupials are generally widespread throughout most ofthe environments present in South and Central America,with a marked reduction in diversity south of 428 S (Birneyand Monjeau 2003, Brown 2004). At this latitude,only four species from three different orders occur:Thylamys pallidior (Thomas 1921) and Lestodelphys halli(Thomas 1921) (Didelphimorphia), Rhyncholestes raphanurusOsgood 1924 (Paucituberculata) and Dromiciopsgliroides Thomas 1893 (Microbiotheria). Of these, thedidelphids, the slender mouse opossum (T. pallidior) andthe Patagonian opossum (L. halli), inhabit the dry andcold steppes of Patagonia.