Common four-eyed opossum

Common four-eyed opossum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Genus: Philander
Species:
P. canus
Binomial name
Philander canus
(Osgood, 1913)
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Metachirus canus Osgood, 1913
    • Didelphis (Metachirus) canus (Osgood, 1913)
    • Holothylax grisescens canus (Osgood, 1913)
    • Metachirus opossum crucialis Thomas, 1923
    • Metachirops opossum canus (Osgood, 1913)
    • Metachirops opossum crucialis (O. Thomas, 1923)
    • Philander opossum canus (Osgood, 1913)

The common four-eyed opossum (Philander canus) is a species of opossum from South America.[2]

Taxonomy

Although this species was initially described as a valid species, it was considered a subspecies of the gray four-eyed opossum until 2018.[2] Some sources, such as the American Society of Mammalogists, consider Philander mondolfii and Philander olrogi to be junior synonyms of this species.[3][2] It is not recognized by the IUCN.

Etymology

The common name "four-eyed opossum" comes from the spots above the eyes of this species looking like another set of eyes. The specific name "canus" comes from Latin and means "white" or "hoary",[4] in reference to the lighter color of this species.[5]

Description

A common four-eyed opossum from Mato Grosso, Brazil

This species has grayish upperparts and buff-colored underparts. The upper parts are silver- and brownish-tipped but grayish overall, and the head is very dark brown. It has two patches of buff above either eye. The underparts are buff-colored near the stomach but whiter near the sides. The tail is bicolored, with the final third being lighter than the basal two-thirds. The toes are white, and the rest of the feet are dark-colored.[5] The species ranges from 500 mm (20 in) to 582 mm (22.9 in), and is on average 526 mm (20.7 in). The tail averages 288 mm (11.3 in).[6]

Range

This species is widespread. It is found in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela; it may also occur in Ecuador.[2]

Habitat

This species occurs across a wide variety of habitats. It has been recorded from the Cerrado, Chaco, Pantanal, Llanos, and Amazonia ecoregions. It is likely restricted to gallery forests across the southern part of its range, but has also been recorded from savannas and dry grasslands.[7] In the central and northern parts of its range it can withstand a variety of forest habitats.[8] Where this species is sympatric with other members of the genus Philander, it is unknown if this species occupies the same habitat or is more restricted.[2]

References

  1. ^ Gardner, Alfred L. (2007). Mammals of South America, Volume 1 Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats. Chicago 60637: The University of Chicago Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-226-28240-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Voss, Robert S.; Díaz-Nieto, Juan F.; Jansa, Sharon A. (January 31, 2018). "A Revision of Philander (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), Part 1: P. quica, P. canus, and a New Species from Amazonia". American Museum Novitates (3891): 1–70. doi:10.1206/3891.1. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Philander canus (Osgood, 1913)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  4. ^ Jaeger, Edmund C. (1959). A Source-Book of Biological Names and Terms (3 ed.). 301-327 East Lawrence Avenue Springfield Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. p. 44. Retrieved 14 October 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ a b Osgood, Wilfred H. (May 31, 1913). "New Peruvian Mammals". Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series. 10 (9): 96–97. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  6. ^ Flores, David A.; Barquez, Rubén Marcos; Diaz, María Mónica (20 April 2007). "A new species of Philander Brisson, 1762 (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae)". Mammalian Biology. 73 (1): 14–24. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2007.04.002.
  7. ^ Alho, C. J. R.; Pereira, L. A.; Paula, A. C. (1986). "Patterns of habitat utilization by small mammal populations in cerrado biome of central Brazil". Mammalia. 50 (4): 447–460. doi:10.1515/mamm.1986.50.4.447.
  8. ^ Lew, Daniel; Pérez-Hernández, Roger; Ventura, Jacint (April 2006). "Two New Species of Philander (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) from Northern South America". Journal of Mammalogy. 87 (2): 224–237. doi:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-065R2.1. Retrieved 14 October 2024.