Black-shouldered Opossum
Encyclopedia
The Black-shouldered Opossum (Caluromysiops irrupta), also known as the White-eared Opossum is an opossum species
from South America
. It's found in multistrata evergreen Amazonian forests of Bolivia
, Brazil
, Colombia
and Peru
. It is in the monotypic
genus Caluromysiops.
It's a rare animal species and, probably, highly arboreal. When in captivity they can feed on fruits and small rodents. In the wild, they also feed on nectar, serving as pollinators
. Black-shouldered opossums are lethargic canopy dwellers that feed on fruit and nectar. It feeds on the abundant fruit and nectar of its tropical forest home.
This species is considered one of the large opossums, with a head-body length of about 28 cm with a 30 cm tail. Two stripes from the front feet along the back to the rear feet distinguish the type. The forelimbs are longer than the hindlimbs. Like many tree-dwelling mammals this opossum has a prehensile tail
for clinging to branches, and large, protruding eyes.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It's found in multistrata evergreen Amazonian forests of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. It is in the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Caluromysiops.
It's a rare animal species and, probably, highly arboreal. When in captivity they can feed on fruits and small rodents. In the wild, they also feed on nectar, serving as pollinators
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
. Black-shouldered opossums are lethargic canopy dwellers that feed on fruit and nectar. It feeds on the abundant fruit and nectar of its tropical forest home.
This species is considered one of the large opossums, with a head-body length of about 28 cm with a 30 cm tail. Two stripes from the front feet along the back to the rear feet distinguish the type. The forelimbs are longer than the hindlimbs. Like many tree-dwelling mammals this opossum has a prehensile tail
Prehensile tail
A prehensile tail is the tail of an animal that has adapted to be able to grasp and/or hold objects. Fully prehensile tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees...
for clinging to branches, and large, protruding eyes.