Derby's woolly opossum

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Derby's woolly opossum
Inside Canopy Tower, Panama

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Genus: Caluromys
Subgenus:
Mallodelphys
Species:
C. derbianus
Binomial name
Caluromys derbianus
(Waterhouse, 1841)
Range of Derby's woolly opossum
Synonyms
List
  • Didelphys derbianus Waterhouse, 1841
  • D. guayanus Thomas, 1899
  • Philander centralis Hollister, 1914

Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus), or the Central American woolly opossum,

least concern
.

Taxonomy and etymology

Derby's woolly opossum is one of the three members of

Glironia (bushy-tailed opossum) under a single subfamily, Microbiotheriinae, noting the dental similarities among these. A 1977 study argued that these similarities are the result of convergent evolution, and placed Caluromys, Caluromysiops and Glironia in a new subfamily, Caluromyinae.[6] In another similar revision, the bushy-tailed opossum was placed in its own subfamily, Glironiinae.[7]

The following seven subspecies are recognized:[5][8]

  • C. d. aztecus (Thomas, 1913): Occurs in Mexico.
  • C. d. canus (Matschie, 1917): Occurs in Nicaragua.
  • C. d. centralis (Hollister, 1914): Occurs in Costa Rica.
  • C. d. derbianus (Waterhouse, 1841): Occurs in Colombia, Ecuador and Panama.
  • C. d. fervidus (Thomas, 1913): Occurs in the lowlands of north-central Guatemala and northern Honduras.
  • C. d. nauticus (Thomas, 1913): Occurs in Gobernadora Island, off the coast of Panama.
  • C. d. pallidus (Thomas, 1899): Occurs in Panama.

The

phylogenetic relationships of Derby's woolly opossum.[9]

Bushy-tailed opossum (Glironia venusta)

Caluromyinae

Black-shouldered opossum (Caluromyopsis irrupta)

Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus)

Bare-tailed woolly opossum (Caluromys philander)

Brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus)

Description

Derby's wooly opossum

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). It is characterized by white to pink ears, lightly colored limbs, a brown coat (lighter than that of the

dental formula is 5.1.3.44.1.3.4.[8][10] The eyes glow red on exposure to light.[2]

Ecology and behavior

Derby's woolly opossum is nocturnal (active mainly at night), solitary, and spends most of the day in nests made of dead leaves in cavities in the upper reaches of trees. Studies show that activity levels may increase if food is scarce, and decrease on exposure to light. The animal is an efficient climber, and the tail assists in grasping branches. It shows remarkable agility in moving among vines and branches. When disturbed, it might attack defensively by biting; it can produce squeals when distressed.[2][8][10] Predators include ocelots.[11]

Diet

Diet comprises fruits of

balsa tree, Mabea occidentalis and Trichanthera gigantea, small invertebrates and vertebrates. After feeding, the opossum will lick the forepaws and use them to clean its face; they can also be used to clean the flanks, underbelly and the portion of the tail nearer to the tip.[8][10]

Reproduction

Both sexes become

New York Zoological Park lived for five years and three months.[5]

Distribution and status

Derby's woolly opossum inhabits deciduous and moist evergreen forests up to an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). The range extends from

least concern, given its presumably large numbers. Earlier, it used to be targeted for its fur. Populations in Ecuador and Mexico, however, are threatened by deforestation.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T3650A22175821.en
    . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-19-534322-9
    .
  3. OCLC 62265494
    .
  4. ^ Jardine, W. (1841). Naturalist's Library. Vol. 24. London, UK: Henry George Bohn. p. 97.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-0-226-28242-8
    .
  6. JSTOR 3504067. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  7. S2CID 85017821
    .
  8. ^ a b c d e Bucher, J.E.; Hoffmann, S. (1980). "Caluromys derbianus" (PDF). Mammalian Species. 140 (1–4). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. S2CID 17393886
    .
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-0-226-19542-1
    .
  11. doi:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-360R2.1
    .
  12. ISBN 978-0-8014-1753-5
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Derby%27s_woolly_opossum&oldid=1217567278"