Category: Opossum. The average lifespan of a common brushtail possum in the wild is between 11 and 13 years. These opossums are small, generally friendly creatures with easy care requirements, and they certainly are cute! Family: Didelphidae. Classification, To cite this page: Also, feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about school, life, etc.! Douglass, V., A. Lesson Summary. Family: Didelphidae. (Allen, 2007; Collins, 1973; Rasmussen, 1990; Walker, et al., 1975), Central American woolly opossums are nocturnal; they are sluggish during the day, if active at all. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet, and … Their ability to digest almost anything edible gives them a broader range than a human. Additional Comments on Reproduction in the Woolly Opossum (Caluromys derbianus) in Nicaragua. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet, and … One captive specimen was still alive after 8.9 years in captivity . The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. Allen, J. These animals are found most frequently within vine tangles and tall trees at the forest’s edge. The cladogram below, based on a 2016 study, shows the phylogenetic relationships of the brown-eared woolly opossum. Mammals of the World, Third ed. They have a pale gray patch between their shoulders and on their hips. (Allen, 2007; Emmons and Feer, 1997; Reid, 2009), Central American woolly opossums are medium-sized, with a head and body length of 225 to 300 mm, a tail length of 384 to 445 mm and weigh 245 to 370 g. They have long, thick, soft, woolly hair that is lightly frosted reddish brown on the dorsum and yellowish white on the venter. "Caluromys derbianus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. Size: Length unknown; 200 - 400 g (7 - 14 oz). Pp. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Feeding and reproduction of three didelphid marsupials in two Neotropical forests (French Guiana). animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Atramentowicz, M. 1995. Accessed Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals, having more than one female as a mate at one time. These animals construct nests made of leaves in vine tangles, tree holes and occasionally on the ground; they may coil their prehensile tails to help carry nest materials. By Rachel Cable and Leila Siciliano Martina, gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate), body parts are source of valuable material, Monotremes and marsupials: a reference for zoological institutions, Asdell's Pattern of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species Specific Data, Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, Second Edition, University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History, A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico, Marsupial Biology: Recent Research, New Perspectives, Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Third Edition, Julien-Laferriere and Atramentowicz, 1990, © 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. Vernacular names [edit wikidata 'Brown-eared woolly opossum'] English : Brown-eared Woolly Opossum, Western Woolly Opossum, Woolly Opossum العربية : أبوسوم مشعر بني الأذن The three species in the genus Caluromys, commonly known as woolly opossums, are members of the order Didelphimorphia.. Primate origins: Lessons from a Neotropical marsupial. For other uses of "Opossum", see Opossum (disambiguation). Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, Second Edition. Interestingly, members of genus Caluromys have a similar basal metabolic rate as placental mammals of a similar size, unlike most other marsupials. Scientific Name: Caluromys derbianus. [11], Diet comprises fruits of pepper vines and Cecropia species, nectar of the balsa tree, Mabea occidentalis and Trichanthera gigantea, small invertebrates and vertebrates. Nowak, R. 2005. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching. Although neonate data is not available for Central American woolly opossums, their close relatives, bare-tailed woolly opossums, are about 10 mm long at birth. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. license cc-by-3.0 copyright Joao Pedro de Magalhaes. The possum is the animal we are discussing in this article, but it is also known as the opossum. [5], Derby's woolly opossum inhabits deciduous and moist evergreen forests up to an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). 2006. (On-line). [6] In another similar revision, the bushy-tailed opossum was placed in its own subfamily, Glironiinae. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Agile gracile oposs... Bare-tailed Woolly ... Black-eared Opossum. 2007. LIFE SPAN: 6 years. My name is Grace Gargiulo and I'm one of the Community Service Co-Chairs for PVMA this year! London: The Brown Reference Group. The time when breeding takes place varies geographically. The young are weaned between 70 and 125 days, when they detach from the teat and leave the pouch. Brito D, Fonseca GAB. Thylamys … Rarity in Neotropical forest mammals and its ecological correlates. Search in feature Arita, H., J. Robinson, K. Redford. Food deprivation caused a doubling in activity level, while constant illumination resulted in a decrease in activity. Biotropica, 22:4: 404-415. Journal of Mammalogy, 49/2: 320-321. The litter size ranges from one to six. [4] It was given its present binomial name, Caluromys derbianus, by American zoologist Joel Asaph Allen in 1900. Pp. Cable, R. and L. Siciliano Martina 2013. Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus), or the Central American woolly opossum,[2] is an opossum found in deciduous and moist evergreen forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to western Ecuador and Colombia. [1], "Phylogenetic relationships and classification of didelphid marsupials, an extant radiation of New World metatherian mammals", Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, "Phylogeny and evolution of body mass in didelphid marsupials (Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)", "Competitive release in diets of ocelots (, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Derby%27s_woolly_opossum&oldid=982361844, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 October 2020, at 17:36. Opossums originated in South America, and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of the two continents. The Biology of Marsupials. Life history traits (averages) Female sexual maturity 304 days Male sexual maturity Gestation 24 days Weaning 100 days Delciellos, A., M. Vieira. Although some live longer, the average lifespan of the opossum is only 1-2 years. Caluromys derbianus. 2005. Explore one of the largest Mammal Longevity Databases in the World. Van Tienhoven. Tail. The dorsal portion of their tail is furred 30 to 50% from the base with hair darker than their body; the ventral portion is furred up to 25% from the base. Journal of Mammalogy, 87:4: 808-816. It is found in the Neotropics. Caluromys derbianus aztecus; Caluromys derbianus centralis; Caluromys derbianus derbianus Long-term α 1A-AR stimulation improves learning and memory, reduces anxiety and depression, and increases lifespan in mice (Doze et al., 2009, 2011; Perez and Doze, 2011). Individuals are known to live for 76 months and can grow to 246.47 g. Reproduction is viviparous and dioecious. Subgenus Mallodelphys. The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! (Emmons and Feer, 1997). Lifespan: Wild opossums have a relatively short lifespan of approximately 1.5-2 years. Topics Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 7 to 9 months. Competitive release in diets of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and puma (Puma concolor) after jaguar (Panthera onca) decline. (Collins, 1973; Reid, 2009), Central American woolly opossums were once hunted by humans for their fur, but there is no longer a demand for the trade. The range extends from Veracruz in southern Mexico southward into South America to western Ecuador and Cauca River valley in Colombia. Taxonomy. They can eat small insects, small animals, fruits, vegetables, and also carrion. They have to deal with predators and human intrusions. young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. (Bucher and Hoffman, 1980; Collins, 1973; Delciellos and Vieira, 2009; Hunsaker, 1977; Rasmussen, 1990), Central American woolly opossums are omnivores that eat many insects as well as other small invertebrates, fruits, seeds, leaves, small vertebrates, flower parts, nectar and possibly carrion. Food/Eating Habits . [8][10], Both sexes become sexually mature by seven to nine months. Northern Brushtail Possum Lifespan. In comparison to other opossums, it is rather cute, with a thick coat of fur, gray in color with extensive reddish or … It ranges from 140-390 g in The underside of the body is whitish and the upperparts are greyish-beige. When they perceive a threat, these animals may bare their teeth and hiss. (Allen, 2007; Bucher and Hoffman, 1980; Emmons and Feer, 1997; Lew, et al., 2008), Central American woolly opossums are found in both primary and disturbed tropical humid forests, evergreen rainforests, dry forests, gardens and plantations up to 2,500 m in elevation. Derby's woolly opossum is the largest in its genus, with a total length of 60 to 70 centimetres (24 to 28 in) and weight between 200 and 400 grams (7.1 and 14.1 oz). Conservation Biology, 4:2: 181-192. (Allen, 2007; Bucher and Fritz, 1977; Bucher and Hoffman, 1980; Hall and Dalquest, 1963; Hunsaker, 1977; Rasmussen, 1990; Reid, 2009), Central American woolly opossums are thought to keep extremely small home ranges, Bucher and Hoffman (1980) suggested that their home range size is no more than a couple of nearby trees, although the home range size of the closely related bare-tailed woolly opossums has been estimated at 2.5 to 7.0 hectares. Taxon Information Hunsaker, D. 1977. Opossums (colloquially possums) (Didelphimorphia, [unsupported input]daɪˌdɛlfɨˈmɔrfiə[unsupported input]) make up the largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, including 103 or more species in 19 genera. reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female. [1][10] The IUCN classifies it as least concern, given its presumably large numbers. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Poor diets can lead to metabolic bone diseases that are expensive to treat and potentially fatal. It shows remarkable agility in moving among vines and branches. 1990. Individuals reach sexual maturity at the age of 7 to 9 months. Coat color varies geographically. They are arboreal and are rarely found on the ground. Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing. Predators include Contributor Galleries Derby's woolly opossum is one of the three members of Caluromys, and is placed in the family Didelphidae. It is found in the Neotropics. Virginia opossums are opportunistic feeders that eat a variety of foods depending on the season. editor de Magalhaes, J. P. partner site AnAge articles. Longevity Records Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish Mammals Table 1. Just better. Scientific Name: Philander andersoni . Young. Hosts: Marmosops dorothea (Dorothy's slender mouse opossum), Monodelphis domestica (Gray short-tailed opossum), Thalamys elegans (syn. When these animals are between 80 and 120 days old, they may accompany their mother during her nightly foraging trips by riding on her back, or they may remain in the nest. On average, Virginia opossums have two litters per year, but this varies depending on their specific location. Possum Merino Knitwear. The black-shouldered opossum is the sole member of Caluromysiops, and is placed in the family Didelphidae.It was first described by Colin Campbell Sanborn, curator of Field Museum of Natural History, in 1951. (Atramentowicz, 1995; Bucher and Fritz, 1977; Bucher and Hoffman, 1980; Collins, 1973; Douglass and Van Tienhoven, 1993; Julien-Laferriere and Atramentowicz, 1990; Phillips and Jones Jr, 1968; Saunders and Hinds, 1997), Members of genus Caluromys stand out among other didelphids due to their relatively long gestation and nursing periods and relatively small litters. The time when breeding takes place varies geographically – it takes place during the dry season in Panama (late January or early February) and probably throughout the year in Nicaragua. Due to the prominence and frontal orientation of their large eyes, these animals are believed to have extremely acute vision. Accessed December 19, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Caluromys_derbianus/. Central American woolly opossums are likely solitary, as individuals are oftentimes sighted alone. Bucher JE, Fritz HI. 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