Brown four-eyed opossum

The brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus) is a pouchless marsupial^[3] of the family Didelphidae. It is found in different forested habitats of Central and South America,^[2] from Nicaragua to Brazil and northern Argentina,^[1] including southeastern Colombia, Paraguay and eastern Peru and Bolivia, at elevations from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).^[2] It is the only recognized species in the genus Metachirus,^[1] but molecular phylogenetics studies suggest that it should probably be split into several species.^[2] Population densities are usually low, and it is uncommon in parts of Central America.^[2] A density of 25.6/km² (66/sq mi) was reported near Manaus, Brazil.^[3] Its karyotype has 2n = 14 and FN = 24.^[3]

Brown four-eyed opossum[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Didelphimorphia
Family:	Didelphidae
Subfamily:	Didelphinae
Tribe:	Metachirini Reig et al., 1987
Genus:	Metachirus Burmeister, 1854
Species:	M. nudicaudatus
Binomial name
Metachirus nudicaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1803)
Brown four-eyed opossum range

It is a nocturnal, solitary,^[2] strongly terrestrial and omnivorous animal, feeding on fruits, small vertebrates and invertebrates.^[3]

The brown four-eyed opossum builds nests made of leaves and twigs in tree branches or under rocks and logs.^[4] It is seasonally polyestrous and the litter size varies from one to nine.^[3]

The white spot over each eye inspired the common name of "four-eyed opossum". Its scaly tail is longer than its body.^[3]

The opossum is mostly insectivorous,^[5] though it also consumes some types of fruit seeds, small vertebrates like birds and reptiles and invertebrates like crayfish and snails.^[6] The brown four-eyed opossum is a host of the acanthocephalan intestinal parasite Gigantorhynchus ortizi.^[7]