Northern red-sided opossum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northern red-sided opossum
Northern red-sided opossum illustration
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Didelphimorphia
Family:	Didelphidae
Genus:	Monodelphis
Species:	M. brevicaudata
Binomial name
Monodelphis brevicaudata (Erxleben, 1777)
Northern red-sided opossum range
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The northern red-sided opossum or the Guianan short-tailed opossum is a small opossum found in South America. Its scientific name is Monodelphis brevicaudata. You can find this animal in countries like Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

What do Northern Red-sided Opossums Look Like?

A skull of a Northern red-sided opossum.

These opossums are about 11 to 14 centimeters (4 to 5.5 inches) long. Their tails are shorter, around 4.5 to 6.5 centimeters (1.75 to 2.5 inches). They are small, mouse-like marsupials. They usually weigh between 67 and 95 grams.

Males are a little bigger than females. However, it's hard to tell them apart just by looking. Their fur is a special feature. They have short, thick grey or black fur on their backs. Their sides and feet have reddish fur.

Where do Northern Red-sided Opossums Live?

Northern red-sided opossums live in rainforests. They prefer older forests or forests that are growing back. You can also find them in plantations or gardens. They like areas with lots of plants and shrubs. They often make their homes in hollow trees.

Living in these places means they might meet predators. These include owls, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. These opossums can be found at high places, sometimes up to 1,200 meters (about 3,900 feet) high.

How do Northern Red-sided Opossums Behave?

We don't know how long they live in the wild. But in zoos, they live for about 3.9 years on average. Even though they live in forests, they are not very good at climbing trees. They mostly stay on the forest floor.

These opossums are nocturnal. This means they are active at night. During the day, they rest in nests inside hollow logs or tree trunks. They become active when the sun starts to set. Their diet includes seeds, plant shoots, and fruits. They also eat dead animals, insects like cockroaches, crickets, and spiders. Sometimes, they even eat small rodents.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Northern red-sided opossums have many partners. They become ready to have babies when they are about 4 to 5 months old. Male opossums might fight each other for space and for mates.

A female opossum usually has 7 babies in one litter. If she is healthy, she can have up to 4 litters in a year. They usually have babies from May to August. Female opossums likely take care of their young. They look after them for about 50 days after they are born. Unlike some other marsupials, the northern red-sided opossum's pouch is not fully developed. The young babies hold onto their mother's fur and nipples. When they are a bit older, they ride on her back.

About Their Name

For a long time, scientists thought the Monodelphis brevicaudata was the same as another species, Monodelphis glirina. But in 2010, after looking closely at their genes, scientists found out they were different. They discovered there were actually three different species in the Bolivia area, including M. brevicaudata and M. domestica.