Natural Habitat of the Short-Tailed Opossum M. Domesticus in their natural habitat are found in Brazil, Bolivia, andParaguay. They are considered good luck for a home by the tribal villagers in these areas because they eat insects, small rodents, and even scorpions. There are many other types of small opossums in South America but this is the species that has been most widely used for research over the past few decades. Physical Characteristics of the Short-Tailed Opossum These opossums range from 3 to 6.5 inches long with a tail that is 1.5 to 3 inches long. They weigh from 2 to 3 ounces.
Males can grow up to larger than females.
Their tail is bare but their body has short, thick and sometimes wavy fur. The texture of their fur is soft and similar to a rabbits fur. Their coats are usually a medium colored gray, with a buff covered underbelly. Babies are born naked and pink. These animals have a similar body structure to shrews.