Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum vs

Thylamys pusillus compared with Trapeliopsis pseudogranulosa

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class Mammalia (Mammals) Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia) Baeomycetales (Baeomycetales)
Family Didelphidae Trapeliaceae
Genus Thylamys Trapeliopsis
Species Thylamys pusillus Trapeliopsis pseudogranulosa

Conservation Status

Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum

LC — Least Concern

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum

The Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (<em>Thylamys pusillus</em>) is a small marsupial belonging to the genus Thylamys within the family Didelphidae. Like other members of its genus, this species typically stores fat in its tail, which becomes swollen during periods of food abundance and is metabolised during leaner times, a physiological adaptation that provides energy reserves. <em>Thylamys pusillus</em> is generally found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, often in dry woodlands, scrublands, and grassland habitats of South America. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating it is not currently considered at risk of extinction. Detailed geographic range data are not available in the current record, but members of this genus are typically distributed across parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Biological traits including average lifespan, body dimensions, and specific dietary composition remain poorly documented in the scientific literature, though Thylamys species are generally considered omnivorous, often consuming insects, small vertebrates, and plant material.

Trapeliopsis pseudogranulosa is a crustose lichen with a granular, pale grey-green thallus forming patches on acidic soil and peat in open habitats. It inhabits heathlands, disturbed acidic soils, and sandy bare ground in temperate and boreal European environments. This lichen contributes to biological soil crusts in open, acidic terrestrial habitats.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia