Comadreja Orejas Negras

discussion

COMMENTS: Previously considered a disjunct population of D. marsupialis (see Cerqueira, 1985). The senior synonym is D. azarae Temminck, 1824 (see Hershkovitz, 1969); however, the name had been misapplied to D. albiventris for over 160 years.

Order Didelphimorphia

materials_examined

TYPE LOCALITY: Brazil, Bahia, " Villa Viçosa am Flusse Paruhype. "

Order Didelphimorphia

activity

Activity patterns. The Southern Black-eared Opossum is mainly nocturnal, usually active during the first hours of the night in southern Brazil. Its activity period is sometimes partially synchronized with activity peaks of rodents, suggesting that it is maximizing prey capture. In south-eastern Brazil, Southern Black-eared Opossums were mostly nocturnal, with two peaks of activity: the first around sunset (declining during the following 4 - 5 hours) and the second about eight hours after sunset. During this second peak, juveniles and subadults were less active than adults. Daytime activity was also recorded, representing c. 10 % of total activity, and occurred during three hours preceding sunset. Activity pattern showed no influence of reproductive or climatic season.

Didelphidae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Atlantic rainforest, both coastal and inland in both primary and secondary forests and associated vegetation types, such as coastal restinga, and into the Araucarias forest in southern Brazil. The Southern Black-eared Opossum is highly tolerant of habitat disturbance and coexists with humans, with no habitat restriction within its distribution.

Didelphidae