Brown-eared Woolly Opossum
Caluromys lanatus
Silhouette: Milena Cavalcanti, Patricia Pilatti & Diego Astúa · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderDidelphimorphia (Opossums)
- FamilyDidelphidae (Opossums)
- GenusCaluromys (Woolly Opossums)
- SpeciesCaluromys lanatus (Brown-eared Woolly Opossum)
About the Brown-eared Woolly Opossum
The brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus), also known as the western woolly opossum, is an opossum from South America. It was first described by German naturalist Ignaz von Olfers in 1818. The opossum is characterized by a brown to reddish brown coat and similarly colored limbs, yellow to orange underbelly, hairless, brown ears with a hint of pink, and a tail furred on the back for up to half of its length. The brown-eared woolly opossum is nocturnal (active mainly at night), solitary and omnivorous. The IUCN lists it as least concern.
The brown-eared woolly opossum is one of the three members of Caluromys, and is placed in the family Didelphidae. It was first described by German naturalist Ignaz von Olfers as Didelphys lanata in 1818. It was given its present binomial name, Caluromys lanatus, by American zoologist Joel Asaph Allen in 1900.
A 1955 revision of marsupial phylogeny grouped Caluromys, Caluromysiops, Dromiciops (monito del monte) and Glironia (bushy-tailed opossum) under a single subfamily, Microbiotheriinae, noting the dental similarities among these. A 1977 study argued that these similarities are the result of convergent evolution, and placed Caluromys... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Brown-eared Woolly Opossum in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 4 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 5 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 6 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 7 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Brown-eared Woolly Opossum in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-eared Woolly Opossum sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Brown-eared Woolly Opossum in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve?
November has the highest sighting rate for Brown-eared Woolly Opossum in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in our monthly data.