Mammals
Four-eyed Opossum
Philander opossum
Carrying two pale spots above its eyes that resemble a second pair, a four-eyed opossum forages alone under cover of darkness across a broad stretch of forest and wetland habitat spanning much of the Americas.
Overview
The four-eyed opossum, Philander opossum, is a Least Concern mammal native to forest and wetland habitat across a broad range of South America. Its distinctive false-eye markings, its solitary nocturnal lifestyle, and its exceptionally wide geographic range make it one of the more widely distributed small marsupials found anywhere in the Americas.
A face built to confuse
Those pale spots above a four-eyed opossum’s actual eyes may do more than just give the species its name, potentially confusing predators or prey about exactly where the animal is looking as it forages alone through the darkness.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable forest and wetland habitat throughout its broad range in the Americas.
Four-eyed Opossum: common questions
Why is it called the four-eyed opossum?
This species has pale spots above each eye that resemble a second pair of eyes, a feature that gives the species its common name despite having only two actual eyes.
Is the four-eyed opossum active during the day?
No, this species is nocturnal and largely solitary, foraging alone under cover of darkness rather than during daylight hours.
How large is the four-eyed opossum's range?
This species is found across a broad range of the Americas, from Mexico south through much of South America.
How does the four-eyed opossum move through trees?
This species has a prehensile tail used for grasping branches while climbing, an adaptation shared with several other opossum species.