Chironectes minimus (Zimmermann 1780)

[Lutra] minima Zimmermann 1780, Geogr. Gesch. Mensch. Vierf. Thiere, 2: 317.

Type Locality: "Gujana;" restricted to Cayenne, French Guiana (Cabrera, 1958:44).

Vernacular Names: Water Opossum.

Subspecies::

Subspecies Chironectes minimus subsp. minimus (Zimmermann 1780)

Subspecies Chironectes minimus subsp. argyrodytes Dickey 1928

Subspecies Chironectes minimus subsp. langsdorffi Boitard 1845

Subspecies Chironectes minimus subsp. panamensis Goldman 1914

Distribution: Oaxaca and Tabasco, México, south through Central America to Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Perú, Venezuela, the Guianas, Paraguay, and NE Argentina.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (nt).

Discussion: Reviewed by Marshall (1978 d, Mammalian Species, 109). The spelling variegatus Illiger, 1815, is a nomen nudum. The spellings memia Desmarest, 1803, memina Boddaert, 1784, memina F. Cuvier, 1825, memmina Desmarest, 1804, and memmina Muirhead, 1819, are incorrect subsequent spellings of minimus Zimmermann.