Most opossums have tails that look bare, scaly, and rope-like, but this one carries a tail that’s visibly fluffy and bushy—more like a small squirrel’s than an opossum’s. That single feature can make it look almost unreal the first time you picture it, as if it’s wearing the wrong tail on purpose. Its body is small and light, built for moving through trees, with a pointed snout, wide, night-ready eyes, and a soft coat that suits shadowy forest life.

Instead of spending much time on the ground, it’s mainly a climber—an animal that treats branches and vines like highways. It has grasping feet and nimble hands that help it cling and scramble, and it moves with careful control rather than loud speed. The bushy tail isn’t just decoration, either: it likely plays a role in balance and body control when it’s navigating narrow supports, and it may also help with warmth or signaling in a cooler, breezier canopy. Compared with many other opossums that look scruffier and more general-purpose, this species feels more specialized—like a forest animal designed to stay above eye level and out of trouble.

Like many small marsupials, it’s flexible about what it eats—often taking insects and other small prey, and also grabbing fruit or other easy forest snacks when they’re available. That “take what the night offers” approach is a smart strategy in forests where the menu changes with seasons and with which trees are fruiting. During the day, it likely rests in hidden, sheltered places—tree hollows, thick vine tangles, or leafy pockets where it can stay safe and conserve energy. If threatened, it can shift instantly from cute to convincing: hissing, baring teeth, or freezing perfectly still so it blends into the background.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Bolivia

2016

Brazil

2016

Colombia

2016

Ecuador

2016

Peru

2016