Good Things Come in Small Packages

A rustle of leaves, a flash of bright orange eye-shine or a bum rapidly disappearing into the forest are all that you usually see of the forests most elusive group – mammals. However on rare occasions, overcome with curiosity, mammals will come in for a closer look.

Simon, usually known for his bird spotting abilities, found a tiny mammal in a tree besides the GVI Amazon base camp’s kitchen and dining area. At first we thought it was a baby opossum, but upon closer inspection we determined it to be the Little Rufous Mouse Opossum (Marmosa lepida).

From head to vent it measures only 10cm, with its tail adding a further 15cm, truly a tiny opossum! They are rarely encountered, and consequently little is known about its favoured habitats and ecology.

However, we saw ourselves that they are fantastic climbers with a keen taste for insects. We observed this individual hunting within the branches of an old lemon tree, at one point hanging upside down shoving a huge cricket down its tiny neck.

After a few photos we left it in peace... only for it to turn up on the walk way at lunch time - presumably to pose for more photographs! Intimate encounters with mammals are few and far between, we will be recounting this one for a long long time!

Chris Beirne - GVI Amazon Base Manager

Good Things Come in Small Packages