Big-eared opossum

The big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita), also known as a saruê,^[4][5] or the gambá,^[3] is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.^[1]

Big-eared opossum[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Didelphimorphia
Family:	Didelphidae
Genus:	Didelphis
Species:	D. aurita
Binomial name
Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826
Big-eared opossum range
Synonyms[3]
List Didelphis azarae Temminck, 1824 Didelphys azarae (Temminck, 1824) Didelphys aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826 Didelphys marsupialis aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1825) Didelphys cancrivora Wagner, 1843 Didelphis marsupialis cancrivora (Wagner, 1843) Gamba aurita brasiliensis Liais, 1872 Didelphis koseritzi Ihering, 1892 Didelphys (Marmosa) koseriti Trouessart, 1898 Didelphis (Didelphis) leucoprymnus Matschie, 1916 nomen nudum Didelphis aurita longipilis A. Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935 Didelphis aurita melanoidis A. Miranda-Ribeiro Didelphis aurita longigilis Ávila-Pires, 1968

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.^[1]

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