#didelphinae

Woolly mouse opossum (Marmosa demerarae) Also known as: long-furred woolly mouse opossum, cuíca

The woolly mouse opossum is a South American marsupial that is widespread and often common, earning it the classification Leas Concern. It forages both arboreally and on the ground where it feeds on insects, small animals, fruits and nectar. It is nocturnal, solitary and constructs open, arboreal nests.

Classification Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Metatheria - Marsupialia - Didelphimorphia - Didelphidae - Didelphinae - Marmosini - Marmosa - Marmosa - Micoreus - M. demerarae

White-bellied woolly mouse opossum (Marmosa constantiae) Also known as: Bay-colored mouse opossum

The white-bellied woolly mouse opossum is a small pouchless marsupial of the family Didelphidae. The second half of the species name was given in honour of Constance Sladen, wife of the naturalist Percy Sladen. The opossum is found across northern Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina. The feet are broad, with stout claws and ridges on the underside of the toes that aid in climbing trees. Females do not have a pouch, but have fifteen teats arranged in a circle - more than in any of this species' closest relatives. The white-bellied woolly mouse opossum has no known threats and it listed as Least Concern.

Classification Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Metatheria - Marsupialia - Didelphimorphia - Didelphidae - Didelphinae - Marmosini - Marmosa - Marmosa - Marmosa - M. constantiae

Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)

Big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita) Also known as: saruê

Big-eared opossums are Neotropical marsupials found along the Atlantic coast of Brazil to northeastern Argentina and southeastern Paraguay. They live in Atlantic rainforests, secondary Atlantic forests, and Araucaria highlands, as well as forests fragmented by urban development and deforestation. Big-eared opossums closely resemble common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) and were once considered a subspecies of it. Like other marsupials, big-eared opossums undergo a brief gestation period and give birth to tiny young that crawl into the mother’s pouch where they attach to a nipple and feed for about 100 days.

Classification Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Metatheria - Marsupialia - Didelphimorphia - Didelphidae - Didelphinae - Didelphis - D. aurita

Brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)

The brown four-eyed opossum is a pouchless marsupial, which builds nests made of leaves and twigs in tree branches or under rocks and logs. It is found in different forested habitats of Central and South America, from Nicaragua and to Paraguay and northern Argentina. It is the only recognized species in the genus Metachirus, but molecular phylogenetics studies suggest that it should probably be split into several species. It is a nocturnal, solitary, strongly terrestrial and omnivorous animal. This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, its occurrance in a number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

Classification Animalia - Chordata - Mammalia - Metatheria - Marsupialia - Didelphimorphia - Didelphidae - Didelphinae - Didelphini - Metachirus - M. nudicaudatus