The Most Elusive Amazonian Mammal? Distribution, Survey, Ecology and Conservation of the Bushy‐Tailed Opossum Glironia venusta

ABSTRACT Introduction Arboreal and nocturnal mammals in the Amazon remain poorly understood due to low detectability and methodological limitations. Glironia venusta , one of the most elusive Neotropical marsupials, exemplifies this issue. Aims To update the geographic distribution of G. venusta across the Amazon basin, characterise habitat associations in relation to land‐use and land‐cover change and conservation areas (CAs), compare survey techniques, and document behaviour, activity patterns, and coexistence with sympatric mammals. Methods Georeferenced records from literature (sightings, collected, camera‐traps), curated iNaturalist observations, and systematic canopy camera‐trapping were integrated. Spatial analyses quantified habitat use, forest cover change, and representation within CAs, while survey techniques were compared temporally. Results We compiled 72 unique localities, increasing the spatial occurrence by 77% relative to current IUCN assessments. Most records occurred in forests, though localised and landscape‐scale forest loss was detected around several sites. Camera traps accounted for most recent detections. We provided the first camera‐trap documentation of gum‐feeding and confirmed strictly nocturnal activity with moderate temporal overlap (Dhat1 = 0.63–0.74) with other arboreal mammals. Discussion Our results indicate that the perceived rarity of G. venusta reflects historical undersampling. Targeted canopy camera‐trapping and curated citizen science substantially improve detectability, while habitat loss outside CAs represents a key conservation challenge. Conclusion For elusive arboreal mammals, integrating survey techniques provides robust practice‐oriented insights. We recommend updating the IUCN assessment of G. venusta and adopting landscape‐scale monitoring strategies beyond CAs, providing a replicable framework for improving the monitoring of other Data Deficient Amazonian mammals.