| Brown four-eyed opossum[1] | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Subfamily: | Didelphinae |
| Tribe: | Metachirini Reig et al., 1987 |
| Genus: | Metachirus Burmeister, 1854 |
| Species: | M. nudicaudatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Metachirus nudicaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1803) | |
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| Brown four-eyed opossum range | |
Thebrown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus) is apouchlessmarsupial[3] of the familyDidelphidae. It is found in different forested habitats of Central and South America,[2] from Nicaragua to Brazil and northern Argentina,[1] including southeastern Colombia, Paraguay and eastern Peru and Bolivia, at elevations from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).[2] It is the only recognized species in the genusMetachirus,[1] but molecular phylogenetics studies suggest that it should probably be split into several species.[2] Population densities are usually low, and it is uncommon in parts of Central America.[2] A density of 25.6/km2 (66/sq mi) was reported nearManaus, Brazil.[3] Itskaryotype has2n = 14 andFN = 24.[3]
It is a nocturnal, solitary,[2] strongly terrestrial andomnivorous animal, feeding onfruits, smallvertebrates andinvertebrates.[3]
The brown four-eyed opossum builds nests made of leaves and twigs in tree branches or under rocks and logs.[4] It is seasonallypolyestrous and the litter size varies from one to nine.[3]
The white spot over each eye inspired the common name of "four-eyed opossum". Its scaly tail is longer than its body.[3]
The opossum is mostlyinsectivorous,[5] though it also consumes some types of fruit seeds, smallvertebrates like birds and reptiles andinvertebrates likecrayfish andsnails.[6] The brown four-eyed opossum is a host of theacanthocephalan intestinal parasiteGigantorhynchus ortizi.[7]
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