Northern caenolestid


The northern caenolestid, also known as the blackish shrew opossum, is a shrew opossum found in Colombia and Ecuador. It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Taxonomy and etymology

The northern caenolestid is one of the five members of Caenolestes, and is placed in the family Caenolestidae. It was first described by American zoologist Harold Elmer Anthony in 1924. In the latter part of 20th century, scientists believed that Caenolestes is closely related to Lestoros. Over the years, it became clear that Lestoros is morphologically different from Caenolestes. A 2013 morphological and mitochondrial DNA-based phylogenetic study showed that the Incan caenolestid and the long-nosed caenolestid form a clade sister to Caenolestes. The cladogram below is based on this study.
Two subspecies are recognized:
  • C. c. barbarensis Bublitz, 1987: Occurs in western Colombia
  • C. c. convelatus H. E. Anthony, 1924: Occurs in northwestern Ecuador
Caenolestid fossils date to as early as the early Eocene. The generic name Caenolestes derives from the Greek words kainos and lestes.

Description

The northern caenolestid is similar to the gray-bellied caenolestid in coat coloration but differs in cranial features. Kirsch and Waller gave the following measurements for 1 adult male captured in Colombia in 1969:

Distribution and habitat

The northern caenolestid occurs in and around alpine and secondary forests. The populations appear to have been divided into two parts – the Andes of western Colombia and northcentral Ecuador. It occurs in an altitudinal range of in Colombia, though in Ecuador it has been recorded at a height of. In 2008, the IUCN classified the northern caenolestid as Vulnerable because it is known only from an area of. Deforestation is a major threat, and more severe in Ecuador.