Brown four-eyed opossum

Preparation of a naked-tailed opossum at the Museum Koenig.

The naked-tailed opossum ( Metachirus nudicaudatus ) is a Beutelsäugerart from the family of opossums ( Didelphidae ). It is also called Brown Four eyes opossum, but is not closely related to the four eyes opossums of the genus Philander.

Description

These animals belong to the larger possums, they reach a body length 19-31 centimeters and a weight of up to 800 grams. Her short, dense fur is brownish in color at the top, the bottom is light gray. Her face is almost black, above each eye, they have a gray spot, which they owe the name of Four Eyes opossum. The tail, which is longer than the body is hairless except for the root.

Distribution and habitat

Naked-tailed opossums are native to Central and South America, their range extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Habitat of this species are forests or bush -lined grasslands.

Way of life

These marsupials live both in trees and on the ground and are strictly nocturnal. When resting places serve them nests of leaves and twigs, but also caves and crevices. These animals are omnivorous, but primarily take fruits to him. In addition, they eat insects, bird eggs and small vertebrates.

You have no bag, but only skin folds, where hide the five to nine teats. Litter size is between one and nine, the gestation period is likely to be like all bandicoots very short. The life expectancy of these animals should hardly exceed three to four years.

Threat

Naked-tailed possums are a pest in some places, as they devastate fruit plantations. They are common and widespread, the IUCN lists the species as " not at risk " ( least concern ).

System

The systematic position of the naked-tailed opossum is not entirely clear. The similarities with the four eyes opossums ( Philander ) are superficial and not indicative of a close relationship. Sometimes it is in a separate subfamily, Metachirinae, classified, is that may be a transitional form between the bag lots of opossums ( Marmosinae ) and the authentics opossums ( Didelphinae ). (See Nomenclature of possums. )