Marsupial weasel (SciiFii)

The marsupial weasel (Furogale musteloides) is a species of marsupial that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the temperate forests, open woodlands, and grasslands across South America to help boost biodiversity. The marsupial weasel is a rather average-sized carnivorous marsupial, with males and females weighing around 3.5 and 1.8 kg, respectively, and it primarily feeds on insects, crayfish, lizards, snakes, birds, domestic poultry, small rodents, Protypotherium, rabbits, arboreal opossums, squirrels, small New World monkeys, and young South American lemurs (Brasilemur americana). They may scavenge on carrion of larger prey such as deer, peccaries, tapirs feral pigs, cattle, jaguars, pumas, and feral dogs. However, the marsupial weasel does not scavenge as much as the devil opossums. Much of the prey eaten by the marsupial weasels are arboreal. They can climb high into trees and make nocturnal hunts for opossums and birds. The flexibility of their diets suggests their prey base is not detrimentally affected by bushfires. When hunting, a marsupial weasel stalks its prey, stopping only when its head is up. It then launches its attack, executing a killing bite to the base of the skull or top of the neck, depending on the size of the prey. The marsupial weasel will pin small prey down with its fore paws and then deliver the bite. With large prey, it jumps and latches on its back and bites the neck. Marsupial weasels are generally nocturnal and rest during the day in dens. However, juveniles and females with young in the den can be seen during the day and may leave their dens when it is light out. Marsupial weasel dens take the form of burrows, caves, rock crevices, tree hollows, hollow logs, or under houses or sheds. Marsupial weasels move by walking and bounding gaits. Trails are not particularly important for marsupial weasels, although they forage and scent mark along runways and roads. Marsupial weasels are generally not vocal, but vocalisations can be heard in any social interaction. Antagonistic or disturbed vocalisations are guttural huffs, coughs, hisses, and piercing screams. "Cp-cp-cp" sounds are produced by females in estrus. Females communicate with their young with "chh-chh" and "echh-echh" calls. The former are made by females and the latter are made by young. "Juveniles vocalise frequently when fighting and their mother will hiss when they clamber over her." During antagonistic encounters, marsupial weasels also threaten each other with open mouths and teeth displays. At this time, the ears are laid back and the eyes are narrowed. Males grasp and bite each other in combat. Marsupial weasels reproduce seasonally. They mate in midsummer (June/July), but females can breed as early as May. Females give birth with their hindquarters raised and their tails curled. For the time the young is in the pouch, a female rests on her sides. After the young have left the pouch, females stay in nests they have built. For their first 50–60 days of life, the young cannot see, so they rely on vocalisations and touch to find their mother or siblings. It stops when their eyes open after 70 days. Young are not carried on the back, but they do rest on their mother and cling to her when frightened. By 100 days the young become more independent of their mothers, and the mothers more aggressive towards their young. The conservation status of the marsupial weasel is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the marsupial weasel's wide range.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii