Southern four-eyed opossum

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Southern four-eyed opossum (Philander quica) is a small marsupial from the Atlantic Forest of South America. It was first described in 1824, and after years of name changes, Philander quica is now the oldest valid name for this species.

Appearance
- Upper fur is gray with darker underfur; the face and ears look darker.
- Underside is yellowish to whitish, with gray tones at the sides and near the neck.
- It has two spots above each eye the color of the underside.
- Tail is bare; the first part is gray and the end is white.
- Size ranges from about 230–620 mm in body length, with an average around 487 mm; tail length averages about 262 mm (range 170–320 mm).

Habitat and range
- Found in southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay.
- The species is endemic to the Atlantic Forest and can live in lowland forests, submontane forests, coastal scrub, and even agricultural fields.

Behavior and diet
- True omnivore: eats fruits, seeds, flowers, and a variety of animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and carrion.
- Primarily terrestrial, nocturnal, and solitary.

Reproduction
- Litter sizes average about 3–6 young.

Taxonomy notes
- The species has a complex taxonomic history and was once considered a subspecies of related opossums. Genetic studies show it is the sister to all other Philander species. It is recognized as a distinct species by the American Society of Mammalogists, but not by the IUCN. The name quica comes from a local or Portuguese word.