First evidence of gregarious denning in opossums (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae), with notes on their social behaviour.

ABSTRACT: The Didelphidae are considered solitary opossums with few social interactions, usually limited to mating-related or mother-pouch young interactions. Anecdotal reports suggest that additional interactions occur, including den sharing by a few individuals, usually siblings. Here, we report novel observations that indicate opossums are more social than previously thought. These include nest sharing by males and females of Marmosa paraguayana, Gracilinanus microtarsus and Marmosops incanus prior to the onset of the breeding season and without signs of sexual activity; this is taken to indicate early pair-bonding matching and cooperative nest building. We also recorded den sharing among recently weaned siblings of Didelphis aurita and Caluromys philander. In addition, we observed 13 individuals

SUBMITTER: Astua D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4528478 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature