Caluromys philander

Rocha, Rita G., Ferreira, Eduardo, Costa, Barbara M. A., Martins, Iracy C. M., Leite, Yuri L. R., Costa, Leonora P. & Fonseca, Carlos, 2011, Small mammals of the mid-Araguaia River in central Brazil, with the description of a new species of climbing rat, Zootaxa 2789, pp. 1-34 : 13

Philander opossum (Linnaeus)

Identification. This species, known as the grey four-eyed opossum, has two white spots above the eyes, black eye outline, gray nose and cream to orange cheeks. Ears are bicolored (grey and white). Dorsal pelage is dark gray with soft fur; ventral pelage varies from cream to orange. The tail is dark with a white tip, and the basal furred part ranges from 30 to 55 mm of its length, which is a good diagnostic character that distinguishes it from M. nudicaudatus . Females have a pouch.

Measurements (n = 50): HB = 180–260, T = 203–300, HF = 34–42, E = 31–41, W = 129–390.

Distribution. Philander opossum is widely distributed from northeastern Mexico to the lowland tropics of Central and South America to southcentral Brazil ( Gardner 2007).

Natural history. Fifty-six individuals (47 adults and nine juveniles) were captured in 60L pitfall traps (n = 6), in Sherman and Tomahawk traps on the ground (n = 46) and in the understory (n = 4) of flooded and upland forests at PEC and FSF. Three adults were captured in Sherman and Tomahawk traps on the ground (n = 2) and in the understory (n = 1) in ipucas at FLV. Eleven out of 30 females were carrying pouch young and eight were lactating. Litter size varied from one to seven young. These captures of reproductively active females occurred from June to November 2007, and May and September 2008.

Vouchers (n = 11: 5ɗ 6Ψ): UFES 1286–1288, 1415 –1422.