Big-eared opossum explained

The big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita), also known as a saruê,^{[1] [2]} or the gambá,^[3] is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

This species, which was considered a population of the common opossum (D. marsupialis) for some time, was originally described as D. azarae by Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824, but this name was incorrectly given to the white-eared opossum (D. albiventris) for over 160 years. As such, the name azarae has been abandoned.

Due to carrying offspring, female big-eared opossums tend to stay in smaller areas and reduce their movements.

External links

• facts and pictures at Animal Diversity Web

Diogo Loretto, & Marcus Vinícius Vieira. (2005). The Effects of Reproductive and Climatic Seasons on Movements in the Black-Eared Opossum (Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826). Journal of Mammalogy, 86(2), 287–293. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4094347

Notes and References

1. Jane Elizabeth Kraus: FAUNA E FLORA NO CAMPUS: da Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira, EDUSP - Editora da Universidade de São Paulo 2005,, p. 124
2. Book: Brazil . Tania Kobler . Didelphis aurita . 191–192 . https://books.google.com/books?id=AepHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA191 . Catálogo da fauna terrestre de importância médica na Bahia . 2010 . 978-85-232-1166-0 .
3. Book: Gardner . Alfred L. . Mammals of South America Volume 1 Marsupials, Xenarthrans, Shrews, and Bats . 2007 . The University of Chicago Press . Chicago 60637 . 978-0-226-28240-4.