Black-shouldered Opossum

Taxobox | name = Black-shouldered Opossum
status = LC
trend = down
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Didelphimorphia
familia = Didelphidae
subfamilia = Caluromyinae
genus = "Caluromysiops"
genus_authority = Sanborn, 1951
species = "C. irrupta"
binomial = "Caluromysiops irrupta"
binomial_authority = Sanborn, 1951

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'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.

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.

References

* Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable and the criteria used
*
*

External links

* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Caluromysiops_irrupta.html ADW information]
* [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=552531 USDA ITIS information]
* [http://www.knowyoursto.com/didelphidae/caluromysiops.html Pictures]