What can camera traps tell us about reproduction and survival of a neotropical marsupial?

In this paper, we present the first record of a female Metachirus myosuros carrying two young on her back, along with data on the species' reproduction, obtained during two wildlife monitoring studies in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The low number of young (n = 2) carried by the female compared to the average litter size (n = 8.33) suggests a high mortality rate for the species in the first months of life. This record adds to other studies indicating that early survival is a critical phase in the life cycle of marsupials.