There are three species of woolly opossum. These strange-looking little animals with pointed noses and forward-facing bulging eyes, spend their days climbing through treetops in search of fruit and hanging from their long prehensile tails.

Life span
1-3 years.

Statistics
Head and body length: 180-290mm, tail length: 270-490mm, Weight: 500g.

Physical description
Woolly opossums have long pointed noses and large protruding eyes that face forwards, making their faces look reminiscent of a primate. As well as having hands and feet well-adapted for gripping and climbing, their strong and flexible prehensile tails can also be used for grasping.

Distribution
Southern Mexico through to Central America and most of northern South America.

Habitat
Humid, tropical forests.

Diet
They mostly feed on fruit and the nectar of flowering trees (and also act as pollinators for these trees). Woolly opossums also eat seeds, leaves, soft vegetables, insects, other small invertebrates and possibly carrion.

Behaviour
Woolly opossums are solitary animals and although they often congregate around common food sources there is no interaction between individuals. Woolly opossums are thought to be locally nomadic and do not defend territories. They spend their days climbing through the upper forest canopy in search of food, often hanging by their long prehensile tails to get to those hard to reach fruits.

Reproduction
Woolly opossums reach sexual maturity between 6 and 10 months of age. Reproduction is seasonal, with up to three litters of 3-5 young being produced per season. Breeding is timed so that the first litter will be weaned when resources are most abundant. There are no elaborate courtship displays or long term pair bonds. A male will approach a female and if she is receptive they will mate, the copulation is often very prolonged. The gestation period is short, with the young being poorly developed at birth and then spending between 110 and 125 days attached to their mother's teats. Once weaned, the mother abandons any maternal care and the young disperse.

Conservation status
Caluromys derbianus is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List 2002. C. lanatus and C. philander are classified as Lower Risk/near threatened.