Aquatic locomotion of the terrestrial opossum Didelphis aurita (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) using undulatory swimming mode

作者：Graipel Mauricio E^*; Santori Ricardo T

来源：Mammalia, 2016, 80(3): 321-323.

DOI：10.1515/mammalia-2014-0135

• aquatic habits
• bilateral undulation
• marsupial
• neotropical mammals
• swimming behavior

This note reports the first record of undulatory swimming mode by the black-eared opossum Didelphis aurita. The record was made in a stream running through the Atlantic Rain Forest in Southern Brazil. After the individual was released, it dove into the stream to escape, swimming using undulation of its trunk and tail. In general, terrestrial mammals use similar gaits to walk and swim. The lateral undulation of the trunk and tail observed during the diving of D. aurita was similar to that seen in quadruped diagonal gaits in terrestrial habitats, but swimming without use of fore and hind limbs is a behavior unique to aquatic locomotion, increasing the locomotor repertoire of this species.

• 出版日期2016-5