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
Images: [x] [x] [x] Sources: [x] [x]
