common gray shrew opossum

The common gray shrew opossum (Caenolestes fuliginosus) is one of six species of South American marsupials belonging to the family Caenolestidae. These animals, also known as rat opossums, are named for their size and appearance. They are characterized by a long muzzle, dark gray fur, and a tail roughly equal to their body length. Unlike many marsupials, rat opossums do not have a pouch.

These nocturnal, primarily ground-dwelling creatures inhabit moist forests in the Andes Mountains, from Venezuela to Peru. Their diet consists of insects, small vertebrates, fruits, and vegetation. Common shrew opossums, like other mammals, nourish their young with milk from mammary glands.12