Road killed leucistic possum (Didelphis virginiana) in the municipality of Lázaro Cardenas, Quintana Roo, México

Abstract

Introduction: Hypopigmentation such as albinism, leucism, piebaldism and flavism has been reported in all vertebrate groups.  In the case of possums of genus Didelphis hypopigmentation, has been reported in USA, México, Colombia, Panama and Brazil.

Methods: During photo-trapping monitoring associated with the Nuevo Xcan-Playa del Carmen highway (July 2016-July 2017), we did opportunistic roadkill surveys as an additional information source for the project.

Results: On the 11^th of March 2017 at 15:44 hr in between the towns of Agua Azul and Juárez (20° 50' 18.36" N / 87° 19' 30.75" W) in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo, México, we found a road-killed adult male possum (Didelphis virginiana) with leucistic coloration.

Discussion: The fact that most color aberrations on possums occur in the Yucatan Peninsula could be related to the whitish karstic soil (sascab in maya) that make these clear colorations less deleterious than in other more contrasting environments.

Conclusion: Chromatic anomalies such as leucism are rare in wild populations where they can become deleterious but depending on the context they may not.