Caluromys derbianus
Local name: Derby’s Woolly Opossum
Derby's woolly opossum, or the Central American woolly opossum, is an opossum found in deciduous and moist evergreen forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to western Ecuador and Colombia. It was first described by English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse, and named in honor of Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Luis Enrique Girón Mejía, all rights reserved, uploaded by Luis Enrique Girón Mejía
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Didelphimorphia
Family
Didelphidae
Genus
Caluromys
Caluromys derbianus belongs to the family Didelphidae, order Didelphimorphia, within the Mammalia class.
Species Profile
Derby's woolly opossum, or the Central American woolly opossum, is an opossum found in deciduous and moist evergreen forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to western Ecuador and Colombia. It was first described by English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse, and named in honor of Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. Derby's woolly opossum is the largest in its genus, with a total length of 60 to 70 centimetres and weight between 200 and 400 grams. The coat is brown and the underside white-buff to golden-brown. The opossum is nocturnal, arboreal (tree-living) and solitary. Diet consists of fruits, nectar, small invertebrates and vertebrates. The time when breeding takes place varies geographically. The litter size ranges from one to six. The IUCN classifies this opossum as...
Derby's Woolly Opossum faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation throughout its Central and South American range. Agricultural expansion, logging, and urban development continue to reduce and isolate forest patches, while the species' arboreal lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to canopy connectivity loss.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits tropical rainforests, cloud forests, and secondary forests from sea level to approximately 2,000 meters elevation, showing preference for dense canopy cover. The species is strictly arboreal, requiring continuous forest canopy for movement and foraging in both primary and mature secondary forest habitats.
Threats
Agricultural expansion
Deforestation and habitat loss
Habitat fragmentation
Logging and timber extraction
Urban development
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Caluromys derbianus (Caluromys derbianus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/derbys-woolly-opossum