# Big-eared Opossum

*Didelphis aurita*

It possesses natural resistance to the venom of several pit viper species found within its native range, allowing it to prey on venomous snakes.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Didelphimorphia › Didelphidae › Didelphis
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, particularly the Atlantic Forest, as well as secondary growth and forest edges.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous, feeding on fruits, seeds, insects, small rodents, birds, amphibians, and carrion.
- **Range:** Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay
- **Size:** Head and body length 30–39 cm, tail length 33–41 cm, weight 0.9–1.8 kg
- **Lifespan:** 1–3 years
- **Active:** nocturnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, road collisions, and occasional predation by domestic dogs.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans if left alone, but defensive if cornered or handled. It may hiss, bare its teeth, or emit a foul-smelling secretion. Keep a distance of at least 2 meters. If bitten or scratched, thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical evaluation due to risks of secondary infection or rabies.

## About

The big-eared opossum ( Didelphis aurita ) also known as a saruê is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/0a6b1f56-3a12-43ba-bcdf-30dd9d60ff92
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/42657
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didelphis aurita
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/1121119/medium.jpg (Nicolas Olejnik, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.