Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Didelphimorphia
- Family
- Didelphidae
- Genus
- Monodelphis
Habitat
This species inhabits lowland forests, savannas, and grasslands on Marajó Island in northern Brazil. It prefers areas with dense undergrowth and proximity to water sources, such as rivers and wetlands, for cover and foraging.
Diet
It primarily eats insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates, supplemented by fruits, seeds, and occasionally small vertebrates. Feeding occurs nocturnally, with the opossum foraging on the ground in a solitary and opportunistic manner.
Behavior
The Marajó short-tailed opossum is nocturnal and solitary, spending most of its time foraging on the ground rather than climbing. It exhibits territorial behavior by marking areas with scent and may play dead when threatened, a common opossum defense mechanism. Little is known about social interactions, but they are generally non-aggressive.
Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List classifies it as Data Deficient due to insufficient information on population size and trends. Major threats include habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range.