International Journal of Comparative Psychology

Context learning was studied in the Red Opossum, the marsupial, Lutreolina crassicaudata . In Experiment 1 the animals received four trials per day in two different boxes (contexts): X and Y. Half of the animals received periodic deliveries of a sugar solution ( + ) in one box (X+), but not in the other (Y-); the rest received the opposite training (X-), (Y+). Several behavioral categories were recorded during the final trial in each context. Animals approached the feeder significantly more in the positive context. Experiment 2 was designed to determine the extent to which the number of trials per day affected acquisition. Two groups of animals received differential training with either four or one trial per day. No differences between groups were observed, although in both of them, approach to the feeder was significantly higher in the positive context. The results are discussed in relation to both the role of practice distribution on learning in marsupials, and their potential value of this species for the study of learning processes.