Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Didelphimorphia
- Family
- Didelphidae
- Genus
- Didelphis
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits montane forests and cloud forests in the Andes, ranging from Colombia to Peru at elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 meters. It prefers areas with dense vegetation and rocky terrain, adapting to both primary and secondary forests.
Diet
The Andean white-eared opossum is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, small vertebrates like frogs and rodents, and carrion. It forages opportunistically at night, using its keen senses to locate food in trees and on the ground.
Behavior
This opossum is nocturnal and solitary, spending most of its time in trees where it is agile and uses its tail for balance. It is territorial, marking areas with scent and avoiding direct confrontations, though it may play dead when threatened as a defense mechanism.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend, though habitat destruction from deforestation poses a potential threat in the Andes.