Derby's Woolly Opossum

Derby's Woolly Opossum
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Didelphimorphia
Family:	Didelphidae
Genus:	Caluromys
Species:	C. derbianus
Binomial name
Caluromys derbianus (Waterhouse, 1841)

Derby's Woolly Opossum (Caluromys derbianus), or the Central American Woolly Opossum, is a species of opossum in the Didelphidae family. It is found in the Central American region.

Habitat

C. derbianus lives in highland and lowland rain forests of Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. It's range extends to a maximum altitude of 2,460 m (8,100 ft). It is threatened by habitat loss.

Physical characteristics

C. derbianus weighs between 200 and 400 grams (7.1 and 14 oz). Its fur coloration varies geographically but often possess a dark strip running from the top of the head to the nose. The digits of the paws are clawed with the exception of the opposable thumb. The prehensile tail makes up ⅔ the length of the animal with the distal half of the tail being naked.

Reproduction

This species reaches sexual maturity at seven to nine months. The mating season varies regionally from year-round to only during the dry season (January to July). The litter size is 3-6 live young that attach to a teat in the pouch until mature enough to emerge.

Diet

They are omnivorous although their eating habits have not been well studied in the wild.

References

• Sitole, S. (1999). "[tp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Caluromys_derbianus.html Caluromys derbianus]". Animal Diversity Web. tp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Caluromys_derbianus.html. Retrieved 2009-11-13. 

This article about a marsupial is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e