Caenolestidae

The cenolestids (Caenolestidae) are a family of ameridelfian marsupials that includes the only extant species of paucituberculates, the runcho mice or opossum-shrews, as well as some genera of those for which only fossil evidence remains.

These rare marsupials inhabit numerous ecosystems in the Andes, on the American Pacific coast.

They are small, thin animals that, due to their appearance, are reminiscent of shrews.

The body is covered with dense gray or greyish-brown hair.

The skull is rounded, the zygomatic arch weak, and the rostrum long and conical.

The mouth is armed with sharp teeth. The lower jaw is armed with two powerful first incisors followed by others of normal size. In the upper jaw, each group of teeth is separated by a short intermandibular space. The margin of the upper lip is interrupted by a characteristic skin fold.

Eyes are small, round, shiny, and dark.

They have a long, non-prehensile tail.

Although the data available about the species that make up the family are scarce, it is thought that they are basically insectivorous, although there is evidence that, aided by their lower incisors, they can kill small mammals such as young rodents to feed on they.

Subfamily Caenolestinae

Genus Caenolestes

• Author: Thomas, 1895
• Vernacular name: Ratons runchos
• Species:
  • C. caniventer - Anthony, 1921.
  • C. Condorensis - Albuja and Patterson, 1996
  • C. convelatus - Anthony, 1924.
  • C. fuliginosus - Tomes, 1863

Genre Lestoros

• Author: Oehser, 1934
• Vernacular Name: Andean Runner
• Species:
  • L. inca - (Thomas, 1917)

Genus Pseudhalmarhiphus

• Author: (Ameghino, 1903)
• Comments:
• Species:
  • P. guaraniticus
    • Author: (Ameghino, 1903)
    • fossil record: Upper Oligocene; Argentina

Genus Rhyncholestes

• Author: Osgood, 1924
• Vernacular name: Chilean runt
• Species:
  • R. raphanurus - Osgood, 1924

Genus Stilotherium

• Author: Ameghino, 1887
• Comments:
• Species:
  • S. dissimile
    • Author:
    • Fossil Record: Late Miocene, Argentina
  • S. grandis
    • Author:
    • fossil record: Miocene, Argentina

Subfamily Pichipilinae

Genus Phonocdromus

• Author: Ameghino, 1894
• Comments:
• Species:
  • P. gracilis
    • Author:
    • Fossil Record: Late Miocene; Argentina
  • P. patagonicus
    • Author:
    • Fossil Record: Late Miocene; Argentina

Genus Pichipilus

• Author: Ameghino, 1890
• Comments:
• Species:
  • P. sentinelus
    • Author:
    • fossil record: Miocene; Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina
  • P. exilis
    • Author:
    • fossil record: Miocene; Argentina
  • P. halleuxi
    • Author:
    • fossil record:
  • P. osborni
    • Author:
    • fossil record: Miocene; Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina
  • P. rigsii
    • Author:
    • fossil record:

Genus Pliolestes

• Author: Reig, 1955
• Comments:
• Species:
  • P. tripotamicus
    • Author:
    • fossil record: Mioceno; Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina