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The common name "four-eyed opossum" comes from the spots above the eyes of this species looking like another set of eyes. The specific name "melanurus" is derived from the Greek "melas" meaning "black" and "oura" meaning "the tail".
Melanistic black eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Melanistic guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are rare, and are used in rituals by Andean curanderos. [1]Melanism is the congenital excess of melanin in an organism resulting in dark pigment.
A northern four-eyed opossum from Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico. These species are relatively light-furred for a Philander, with gray colors throughout the back, neck, base of the tail, and outer side of the limbs. The head can have some gray colors but tends to be darker, closer to black.
When an opossum is "playing possum", the animal's lips are drawn back, the teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, the eyes close or half-close, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. The stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away without reaction.
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Didelphimorphia is an order of marsupial mammals.Members of this order are called didelphimorphs, or opossums.They are primarily found in South America, though some are found in Central America and Mexico and one, the Virginia opossum, ranges into the United States and Canada.
Three other species are known to occur close to this species's range: Anderson's four-eyed opossum, McIlhenny's four-eyed opossum, and the common four-eyed opossum. This species lacks a dark dorsal stripe, seen in P. andersoni, and is generally darker. P. mcilhennyi is usually black instead of dark gray as in this species.
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The nine species in the genus Philander, commonly known as gray and black four-eyed opossums, are members of the order Didelphimorphia. Mature females have a well-developed marsupium . The tail appears to be hairless except for the proximal (closest to the body) 5 or 6 cm, which has a few long hairs.