Relative Brain Size and Demographic Strategies in Didelphid Marsupials

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Abstract
Mean cranial volumes were established for 17 spp. of didelphid marsupials [Caluromys philander, C. derbianus, C. lanatus, Monodelphis brevicaudata, Marmosa cinerea, M. fuscata, M. mexicana, M. murina, M. noctivaga, M. ocellata, M. robinsoni, Philander opossum, Metachirus nudicaudatus, Lutreolina crassicaudata, Didelphis marsupialis, D. virginiana and Chironectes minimus]. The variability in mean cranial capacity for any given weight class was examined. Arboreal preference is associated with a relatively large brain except in the case of P. opossum. Among didelphid opossums those with relatively large cranial capacities are characterized by a relatively longer life span and lower litter sizes. When compared to prosimians, didelphids generally exhibit shorter life spans, smaller relative cranial capacities and larger litters. Some didelphid marsupials (e.g., Caluromys) have undergone selection toward a demographic strategy which is in part convergent with the extant nocturnal prosimians.

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