Didelphis albiventris - White-earred Opossum

Physical Description:

The body is covered with black fur. Ears and face are covered with white fur with the exception of black rings around the eyes (Redford and Eisenberg, 1992).

Measurements- HB=305-437, T=290-430, HF=45-60, Wt.= 500-2,000 g. (Emmons, 1990).

 Distribution:

D. albiventris is found in and east of the Andes Mountains, Western Venezuela, and Columbia, south to Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Northern Argentina, and Southeast Brazil (Redford and Eisenberg, 1992; Emmons, 1990).

Ontogeny and Reproduction:

Mothers average 9 young at birth, range is 4 to 12. Studies in Brazil show that mature males are always fertile, but female fertility is associated with the onset of the rainy season. There is little effort in gestation, but a lot of effort in lactation. Offspring develop in pouch for 46 days, and are not completely weaned until around 100 days. Young are usually born between September and May (Talamoni and Dias, 1999; Redford and Eisenberg, 1992).

Ecology and Behavior:

D. albiventris is a nocturnal species. The genus Didelphis are solitary animals except during the mating season. They have been shown to be aggressive towards each other any other time of the year. D. albiventris is a terrestrial animal, but can climb well. They are found everywhere except in very high areas and very arid areas (Nowak, 1999; Redford and Eisenberg, 1992).  D. albiventris is omnivorous. Their diet consists of a large number of worms, ants, small birds, eggshells, vegetation, and fruit (Redford and Eisenberg, 1992).

Remarks:

D. albiventris is called Sarve in Brazil, and Coma dreja mora or Coma dreja overa in Columbia. The former name of D. albiventris was Didelphis azarae (Emmons, 1990).

Literature Cited:

Emmons, L.E. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide. 1990. University of Chicago Press. 16.

Nowak, R. Walker’s Mammals of the World, 6th Edition, Volume II.1999. John Hopkins University Press

Redford, K.H. and J.F. Eisenberg. Mammals of the Neotropics.Vol II. 1992. University of Chicago Press. 19 and 20.

Talamoni,S., M. Dias.1999. Population and community ecology of small mammals in southeastern Brazil. Mammalia, 63(2): 167-181.

Reference written by Ryan Bieganski, Biology 378 (Mammalogy).  University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.  Edited by Christopher Yahnke. Page last updated August 3, 2005.