Caluromys derbianus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	DIDELPHIMORPHIA	DIDELPHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Caluromys derbianus

Species Authority:

Waterhouse, 1841

Common Name/s:

English	–	Central American Woolly Opossum
French	–	Opossum De Derby

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Lew, D., Soriano, P., Cuarón, A.D., Emmons, L., Reid, F. & Helgen, K

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
The species is Least Concern because it has a widespread distribution, a large presumed global population, broad habitat tolerance, and has no major threats. Some populations of this species are, however, rapidly deceasing in Mexico and Ecuador due to forest loss.

History:

1996

–

Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species ranges from southern Mexico (Veracruz) to western Ecuador and the Cauca Valley of Colombia (Emmons and Feer, 1997). It is found from sea level to 2,600 m in Colombia (Alberico et al., 2000). To the east, this species is replaced by C. lanatus (Eisenberg, 1989), and it apparently does not pass over the eastern cordillera of the Andes. This species is decreasing in number in the northern parts of its range (Mexico and Ecuador).
Countries:	Native: Belize; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The woolly opossum is fairly common throughout its extensive range. This species appears to be locally common (Emmons and Feer, 1997). This species is very common in Central Panama, Monteverde in Costa Rica, but locally common in Mexico.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species generally inhabits forested areas (evergreen and deciduous), and is predominantly arboreal. It is found in mature and disturbed evergreen rainforest, dry forest, and gardens and plantations (Emmons and Feer, 1997). It has an omnivorous diet consisting of fruits, seeds, leaves, soft vegetables, insects, other small invertebrates and possibly carrion. It is nocturnal and solitary. The average litter size is three (Eisenberg, 1989).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species generally inhabits forested areas (evergreen and deciduous), and is predominantly arboreal. It is found in mature and disturbed evergreen rainforest, dry forest, and gardens and plantations (Emmons and Feer, 1997). It has an omnivorous diet consisting of fruits, seeds, leaves, soft vegetables, insects, other small invertebrates and possibly carrion. It is nocturnal and solitary. The average litter size is three (Eisenberg, 1989).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats. The species may be locally threatened by deforestation. It was trapped in the past for its fur, but this is no longer in demand.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats. The species may be locally threatened by deforestation. It was trapped in the past for its fur, but this is no longer in demand.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The species occurs in several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

The species occurs in several protected areas.

Citation:	Lew, D., Soriano, P., Cuarón, A.D., Emmons, L., Reid, F. & Helgen, K 2008. Caluromys derbianus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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