Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Didelphimorphia
- Family
- Didelphidae
- Genus
- Caluromys
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits tropical rainforests in South America, including parts of Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. They prefer dense undergrowth and forested areas with ample tree cover for arboreal living.
Diet
The Black-shouldered opossum is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, small vertebrates like lizards, and nectar. They forage nocturnally, using their agile movements to search for food in the forest canopy and understory.
Behavior
Black-shouldered opossums are nocturnal and arboreal, spending most of their time climbing in trees. They are solitary animals with overlapping home ranges and exhibit territorial behaviors through scent marking, though they are not highly aggressive.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, but populations may be declining due to habitat loss from deforestation in their range.