View source for Black-shouldered opossum

{{Short description|Species of marsupial}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Black-shouldered opossum
| image = 
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn|author=Solari, S. |author2= Cáceres, N. |name-list-style=amp |year= 2015 |title= ''Caluromysiops irrupta'' |errata= 2016 |page= e.T3651A97206475 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T3651A22172207.en |access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref>
| genus = Caluromysiops
| parent_authority = [[Colin Campbell Sanborn|Sanborn]], 1951
| species = irrupta
| authority = [[Colin Campbell Sanborn|Sanborn]], 1951
| display_parents = 2
| range_map = Black-shouldered Opossum area.png
| range_map_caption = Black-shouldered opossum range
}}

The '''black-shouldered opossum''' (''Caluromysiops irrupta''), also known as the '''white-eared opossum''', is an [[opossum]] known from western [[Brazil]] and southeastern [[Peru]]. It was first [[Species description|described]] by Colin Campbell Sanborn, curator of [[Field Museum of Natural History]], in 1951. The black-shouldered opossum is characterized by a gray coat, gray underbelly, and broad black stripes that extend from the forefeet, meet on the shoulders, run along the midline of the back and then split into parallel stripes that run down the hind feet. Little is known of the behavior of the black-shouldered opossum. It is [[nocturnality|nocturnal]] and [[arboreal]]. It is known to feed on fruits and rodents. The opossum inhabits humid forests. The [[IUCN]] classifies it as [[least concern]].<ref name=iucn/>

==Taxonomy==
The black-shouldered opossum is the sole member of ''Caluromysiops'', and is placed in the family [[Didelphidae]].<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Didelphimorphia | id = 10400027 | page = 4}}</ref> No subspecies are recognized.<ref name=gardner>{{cite book|editor1-last=Gardner|editor1-first=A.L.|title=Mammals of South America|volume=1|date=2007|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, US|isbn=978-0-226-28242-8|pages=11–2|url={{Google Books|id=dbU3d7EUCm8C|page=11|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

The [[cladogram]] below, based on a 2016 study, shows the [[phylogenetic]] relationships of the brown-eared woolly opossum.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Amador|first1=L.I.|last2=Giannini|first2=N.P.|title=Phylogeny and evolution of body mass in didelphid marsupials (Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)|journal=Organisms Diversity & Evolution|date=2016|volume=16|issue=3|pages=641–657|doi=10.1007/s13127-015-0259-x|s2cid=17393886|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290197599|hdl=11336/50679|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:100%;
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
    |1=[[Bushy-tailed opossum]] (''Glironia venusta'')
    |label2=[[Caluromyinae]]
    |2={{clade
       |1=Black-shouldered opossum (''Caluromysiops irrupta'')
       |2={{clade
          |1=[[Derby's woolly opossum]] (''Caluromys derbianus'')
          |2={{clade
             |1=[[Bare-tailed woolly opossum]] (''Caluromys philander'')
             |2=[[Brown-eared woolly opossum]] (''Caluromys lanatus'')
             }}
          }}
       }}
   }}
|2={{clade
   |1=[[Kalinowski's mouse opossum]] (''Hyladelphys kalinowskii'')
   |2={{clade
      |1=[[Marmosini]]
      |2={{clade
         |1=[[Didelphini]]
         |2=[[Thylamyini]]
         }}
      }}
   }}
}}
}}

==Description==
The black-shouldered opossum is characterized by a gray coat, gray underbelly with buff-tipped hairs, and broad black stripes that extend from the forefeet, meet on the shoulders, run along the midline of the back and then split into parallel stripes that run down the hindfeet. Indistinct dark lines run through the eyes. 60 to 75 percent of the length of the tail is darker than the coat dorsally (on the back), while the rest is white. Except for the last 75 percent of the length at the base, the tail is bushy. Like ''[[Caluromys]]'' species, its fur is soft, thick and woolly, and has a similar skull. However, it differs from them in having a shorter [[Rostrum (anatomy)|rostrum]] and larger molars.<ref name="nowak">{{cite book|last1=Nowak|first1=R.M.|title=Walker's Marsupials of the World|date=2005|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|location=Baltimore, US|isbn=978-0-8018-8211-1|pages=88–9|url={{Google Books|id=ldXtY8ppxSQC|plainurl=yes|page=88}}}}</ref> The head-and-body length is between {{convert|25|and|33|cm|in}} and the tail measures {{convert|31|–|40|cm|in}}. The hindfeet measure {{convert|6.7|cm|in}}, while the ears {{convert|3.7|cm|in}}.<ref name="eisenberg">{{cite book|last1=Eisenberg|first1=J.F.|last2=Redford|first2=K.H.|title=The Central Neotropics: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil|date=1999|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, US|isbn=978-0-226-19542-1|page=83|url={{Google Books|id=p2MDAzCeQQoC||plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

==Ecology and behavior==
The black-shouldered opossum's behavior is not well documented. It is [[nocturnality|nocturnal]] and [[arboreal]]. It spends a significant amount of time in trees, mainly on high branches. Studies suggest individual diet preferences; the opossums feed on rodents as well as fruits. Lifespan in captivity has been known to exceed seven years.<ref name=nowak/><ref name=eisenberg/> Up to two young have been recorded.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hayssen|first1=V.|last2=Tienhoven|first2=A.|last3=Tienhoven|first3=A.|title=Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-specific Data|date=1993|publisher=Cornell University Press|location=Ithaca, US|isbn=978-0-8014-1753-5|pages=12–8|edition=Rev. 2nd|url={{Google Books|id=yQzSe71g2AcC|page=12|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

==Distribution and status==
The black-shouldered opossum occurs in humid forests of western [[Brazil]] and southeastern [[Peru]], and probably in [[Bolivia]] as well. There are also reported sightings near the Peru-[[Ecuador]] border, but these are most likely based on captives.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Grant |first1=S |last2=Webbink |first2=K |last3=Jones |first3=J |last4=Kachian |first4=Z |last5=Thompson |first5=M |last6=Suwa |first6=T |date=2023 |title=Field Museum of Natural History (Action) Mammals Sightings |url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4089564336 |website=GBIF.org |type=Occurrence dataset |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.96897}}</ref> It is known only from five different localities. The [[IUCN]] classifies it as [[least concern]] given its wide distribution and presumably large population. A possible threat to its survival is deforestation.<ref name=iucn/>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Wikispecies-inline|Caluromysiops irrupta}}

{{Didelphimorphia|C.}}
{{Portal bar|South America|Animals|Mammals}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q301041}}

[[Category:Mammals described in 1951]]
[[Category:Marsupials of Brazil]]
[[Category:Marsupials of Peru]]
[[Category:Opossums]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Colin Campbell Sanborn]]