Fig. 7.8.

Habitat use, diet and behaviour show strong patterns of association in American marsupials, and together influence where species will occur. In general, the most carnivorous species in genera such as Chironectes and Lestodelphys are active on the ground, while species in genera such as Caluromys that include more fruit and other plant materials in their diets tend to be arboreal. These latter marsupials find their food in trees and hence are restricted to forest and woodland habitats. Source: Figure redrawn, with permission, from Vieira and Astúa de Moraes 2003.