Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Didelphimorphia
- Family
- Didelphidae
- Genus
- Didelphis
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits tropical rainforests and secondary forests in northern South America, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and parts of Venezuela and Brazil. It prefers dense vegetation in lowland areas up to about 1,000 meters elevation, often near rivers or streams for water access.
Diet
The Guianan white-eared opossum is omnivorous, consuming fruits, insects, small vertebrates like frogs and rodents, and carrion. It forages mainly at night, using its agile climbing abilities to access food in trees and on the ground. Feeding behavior is opportunistic, adapting to seasonal availability of prey and plants.
Behavior
This opossum is nocturnal and solitary, spending most of its time in trees to avoid ground predators. It exhibits territorial behavior by marking areas with scent glands and uses a 'playing dead' tactic when threatened. It is agile and opportunistic, scavenging or hunting as needed in its forested environment.
Conservation Status
The IUCN classifies the Guianan white-eared opossum as Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat destruction from deforestation and human expansion.