Opossums () are members of the marsupial

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

Didelphimorphia ()

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 93 species in 18 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of North and South America. The Virginia opossum is the only species found in the United States and Canada. It is often simply referred to as an opossum, and in North America it is commonly referred to as a possum (; sometimes rendered as ''possum'' in written form to indicate the dropped "o"). Possums should not be confused with the Australasian arboreal marsupials of suborder Phalangeriformes that are also called possums because of their resemblance to the Didelphimorphia. The opossum is typically a nonaggressive animal.

Etymology

The word ''opossum'' is borrowed from the Powhatan language and was first recorded between 1607 and 1611 by John Smith (as ''opassom'') and William Strachey (as ''aposoum''). Siebert reconstructs the word phonemically as /a·passem/. ''Possum'' was first recorded in 1613. Both men encountered the language at the British settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, which Smith helped to found and where Strachey later served as its first secretary. Strachey's notes describe the opossum as a "beast in bigness of a pig and in taste alike," while Smith recorded it "hath an head like a swine ... tail like a rat ... of the bigness of a cat." The Powhatan word ultimately derives from a Proto-Algonquian word (''*wa·p-aʔθemwa'') meaning "white dog or dog-like beast." Following the arrival of Europeans in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

, the term ''possum'' was borrowed to describe distantly related Australian marsupials of the suborder Phalangeriformes, which are more closely related to other Australian marsupials such as kangaroos. They similarly have didelphimorphia, two (''di'') wombs (''delphus''), the second being a non-bilateral marsupial womb (nursing-pouch).

Evolution

Opossums are frequently considered to be " living fossils", and as a result are often used to approximate the ancestral therian condition in comparative studies. However, this is inaccurate, as the oldest opossum fossils are from the early Miocene (roughly 20 million years old). The last common ancestor of all living opossums approximately dates to the Oligocene-Miocene boundary (23 million years ago) and is at most no older than Oligocene in age. Many extinct metatherians once considered early opossums, such as '' Alphadon'', '' Peradectes'', '' Herpetotherium'', and ''

Pucadelphys ''Pucadelphys'' is an extinct genus of non-marsupial metatherian. The genus contains a single species, ''P. andinus''. Fossils of ''Pucadelphys'' have been found in the Santa Lucía Formation in Tiupampa in Bolivia.

'', have since been recognized to have been previously grouped with opossums on the basis of plesiomorphies and are now considered to represent older branches of Metatheria only distantly related to modern opossums. Opossums probably originated in the

Amazonia The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...

region of northern South America, where they began their initial diversification. They were minor components of South American mammal faunas until the late Miocene, when they began to diversify rapidly. Prior to this time the

ecological niches In ecology, a niche is the match of a species to a specific environmental condition. Three variants of ecological niche are described by It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors (for ...

presently occupied by opossums were occupied by other groups of metatherians such as

paucituberculata Paucituberculata is an order of South American marsupials. Although currently represented only by the seven living species of shrew opossums, this order was formerly much more diverse, with more than 60 extinct species named from the fossil re ...

ns and sparassodonts Large opossums like '' Didelphis'' show a pattern of gradually increasing in size over geologic time as sparassodont diversity declined. Several groups of opossums, including ''Thylophorops'', ''Thylatheridium'', ''Hyperdidelphys'', and sparassocynids developed carnivorous adaptations during the late Miocene- Pliocene, prior to the arrival of carnivorans in South America. Most of these groups with the exception of ''

Lutreolina ''Lutreolina'' is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name ''Lutreolina'', which i ...

'' are now extinct.

Characteristics

Monodelphis domestica skeleton - ZooKeys 465-10

Didelphimorphs are small to medium-sized marsupials that grow to the size of a house cat. They tend to be semi- arboreal omnivores, although there are many exceptions. Most members of this order have long snouts, a narrow braincase, and a prominent sagittal crest. The dental formula is: teeth. By mammalian standards, this is an unusually full jaw. The incisors are very small, the canines large, and the molars are tricuspid. Didelphimorphs have a plantigrade stance (feet flat on the ground) and the hind feet have an opposable digit with no claw. Like some New World monkeys, opossums have prehensile tails. Like that of all marsupials, the fur consists of

awn hair Awn hairs are the intermediate hairs in a mammal's coat. They are shorter than the guard hairs and longer than the down hairs. They help with insulation and protect the down hairs underneath. Most of the visible coat is made of this kind of hair. ...

only, and the females have a pouch. The tail and parts of the feet bear scutes. The stomach is simple, with a small cecum. Like most marsupials, the male opossum has a forked penis bearing twin

glande Glande (baptized as ''Richard'') was the leader of Sambians, one of the Prussian clans, during the Great Prussian Uprising (1260–1274) against the papal crusades undertaken by the Teutonic Knights The Order of Brothers of the German House ...

s.Krause, William J.; Krause, Winifred A. (2006
''The Opossum: Its Amazing Story''
. Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. p. 39 Although all living opossums are essentially opportunistic omnivores, different species vary in the amount of meat and vegetation they include in their diet. Members of the Caluromyinae are essentially frugivorous; whereas the

lutrine opossum ''Lutreolina'' is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name ''Lutreolina'', which i ...

and

Patagonian opossum The Patagonian opossum ''(Lestodelphys halli)'' is the sole species in genus ''Lestodelphys''. Distribution The Patagonian opossum occurs further south, in Argentina, than any other living marsupial. Although distributed throughout some parts of ...

primarily feed on other animals. The water opossum or yapok (''Chironectes minimus'') is particularly unusual, as it is the only living semi-aquatic marsupial, using its webbed hindlimbs to dive in search of freshwater mollusks and crayfish. The extinct ''

Thylophorops ''Thylophorops'' is an extinct genus of didelphine opossums from the Pliocene of South America. Compared to their close didelphine cousins like the living '' Philander'' and ''Didelphis'' (and like the still living '' Lutreolina'') opossums, '' ...

'', the largest known opossum at 4–7 kg, was a macropredator. Most opossums are

scansorial Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. The habitats pose nu ...

, well-adapted to life in the trees or on the ground, but members of the Caluromyinae and

Glironiinae The bushy-tailed opossum (''Glironia venusta'') is an opossum from South America. It was first described by English zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1912. It is a medium-sized opossum characterized by a large, oval, dark ears, fawn to cinnamon coat ...

are primarily arboreal, whereas species of '' Metachirus'', '' Monodelphis'', and to a lesser degree '' Didelphis'' show adaptations for life on the ground. '' Metachirus nudicaudatus'', found in the upper Amazon basin, consumes fruit seeds, small vertebrate creatures like birds and reptiles and invertebrates like crayfish and snails, but seems to be mainly insectivorous. Opossum (Mar 2021)

Reproduction and life cycle

As a marsupial, the female opossum has a reproductive system that includes a bifurcated vagina, a divided

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...

and a marsupium, which is her pouch. The average estrous cycle of the opossum is about 28 days.Reproduction – Life Cycle
opossumsocietyus.org. Opossums do possess a placenta, but it is short-lived, simple in structure, and, unlike that of placental mammals, not fully functional. The young are therefore born at a very early stage, although the gestation period is similar to that of many other small marsupials, at only 12 to 14 days. They give birth to litters of up to 20 young. Once born, the offspring must find their way into the marsupium to hold on to and nurse from a teat. Baby opossums, like their Australian cousins, are called joeys. Female opossums often give birth to very large numbers of young, most of which fail to attach to a teat, although as many as thirteen young can attach, and therefore survive, depending on species. The young are weaned between 70 and 125 days, when they detach from the teat and leave the pouch. The opossum lifespan is unusually short for a mammal of its size, usually only one to two years in the wild and as long as four or more years in captivity. Senescence is rapid. The

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

are moderately sexually dimorphic with males usually being slightly larger, much heavier, and having larger canines than females.Virginia Opossum. ''Didelphis virginiana''
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The largest difference between the opossum and non-marsupial mammals is the bifurcated penis of the male and bifurcated vagina of the female (the source of the term ''didelphimorph'', from the Greek ''didelphys'', meaning "double-wombed"). Opossum spermatozoa exhibit sperm-pairing, forming conjugate pairs in the epididymis. This may ensure that flagella movement can be accurately coordinated for maximal motility. Conjugate pairs dissociate into separate spermatozoa before fertilization.

Behavior

Opossums are usually solitary and nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available. Some families will group together in ready-made burrows or even under houses. Though they will temporarily occupy abandoned burrows, they do not dig or put much effort into building their own. As nocturnal animals, they favor dark, secure areas. These areas may be below ground or above. Baby opossum

When threatened or harmed, they will "

play possum Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * Pla ...

", mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. This physiological response is involuntary (like fainting), rather than a conscious act. In the case of baby opossums, however, the brain does not always react this way at the appropriate moment, and therefore they often fail to "play dead" when threatened. When an opossum is "playing possum", the animal's lips are drawn back, the teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, the eyes close or half-close, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. The stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away without reaction. The animal will typically regain consciousness after a period of a few minutes to four hours, a process that begins with a slight twitching of the ears. Some species of opossums have

prehensile tail A prehensile tail is the tail of an animal that has adapted to grasp or hold objects. Fully prehensile tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees. If the t ...

s, although dangling by the tail is more common among juveniles. An opossum may also use its tail as a brace and a fifth limb when climbing. The tail is occasionally used as a grip to carry bunches of leaves or bedding materials to the nest. A mother will sometimes carry her young upon her back, where they will cling tightly even when she is climbing or running. Threatened opossums (especially males) will growl deeply, raising their pitch as the threat becomes more urgent. Males make a clicking "smack" noise out of the side of their mouths as they wander in search of a mate, and females will sometimes repeat the sound in return. When separated or distressed, baby opossums will make a sneezing noise to signal their mother. The mother in return makes a clicking sound and waits for the baby to find her. If threatened, the baby will open its mouth and quietly hiss until the threat is gone.

Diet

Opossums eat dead animals, insects, rodents and birds. They also feed on eggs, frogs, plants, fruits and grain. One source notes their need for high amounts of calcium. To fulfill this need, opossums eat the skeletal remains of rodents and roadkill animals. They will also eat dog food, cat food and human food waste. Many large opossums (Didelphini) are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes and pit vipers ( Crotalinae) and regularly prey upon these snakes. This adaptation seems to be unique to the Didelphini, as their closest relative, the

brown four-eyed opossum The brown four-eyed opossum (''Metachirus nudicaudatus'') is a pouchless marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It is found in different forested habitats of Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Brazil and northern Argentina, includin ...

, is not immune to snake venom. Similar adaptations are seen in other small predatory mammals such as

mongooses A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to ...

and hedgehogs. Didelphin opossums and crotaline vipers have been suggested to be in an evolutionary arms race. Some authors have suggested that this adaptation originally arose as a defense mechanism, allowing a rare reversal of an evolutionary arms race where the former prey has become the predator, whereas others have suggested it arose as a predatory adaptation given that it also occurs in other predatory mammals and does not occur in opossums that do not regularly eat other vertebrates. The fer-de-lance, one of the most venomous snakes in the New World, may have developed its highly potent venom as a means to prey on or a defense mechanism against large opossums. A widely publicized 2009 study by the Cary Institute indicated that Virginia opossums in a laboratory setting could eat thousands of ticks per week grooming. However, subsequent studies of the stomach contents of wild Virginia opossums have not found any ticks in their diet.

Habitat

Opossums are found in North, Central, and South America. The Virginia opossum lives in regions as far north as

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

and as far south as Central America, while other types of opossums only inhabit countries south of the United States. The Virginia opossum can often be found in wooded areas, though its habitat may vary widely. Opossums are generally found in areas like forests, shrubland, mangrove swamps, rainforests and eucalyptus forests. Opossums have been found moving northward in recent years.

Hunting and foodways

The Virginia opossum was once widely hunted and consumed in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

. Opossum farms have been operated in the United States in the past. Sweet potatoes were eaten together with the opossum in the American South. In 1909, a "Possum and 'Taters" banquet was held in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...

to honor President-elect William Howard Taft. South Carolina cuisine includes opossum, and President

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

hunted opossums in addition to other small game. Raccoon, opossum, partridges, prairie hen and

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...

s were among the fare Mark Twain recorded as part of American cookery. In Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the

common opossum The common opossum (''Didelphis marsupialis''), also called the southern or black-eared opossum or gambá, and sometimes called a possum, is a marsupial species living from the northeast of Mexico to Bolivia (reaching the coast of the South Paci ...

or ''manicou'' is popular and can only be hunted during certain times of the year owing to overhunting. The meat is traditionally prepared by smoking, then stewing. It is light and fine-grained, but the musk glands must be removed as part of preparation. The meat can be used in place of rabbit and chicken in recipes. Historically, hunters in the Caribbean would place a barrel with fresh or rotten fruit to attract opossums that would feed on the fruit or insects. In northern/central Mexico, opossums are known as ''tlacuache'' or ''tlacuatzin''. Their tails are eaten as a folk remedy to improve fertility. In the Yucatán peninsula they are known in the Yucatec Mayan language as "och" and they are not considered part of the regular diet by Mayan people, but still considered edible in times of famine. Opossum oil (possum grease) is high in essential fatty acids and has been used as a chest rub and a carrier for arthritis remedies given as topical salves. Opossum pelts have long been part of the fur trade.

Classification

Classification based on Voss and Jansa (2009), species based on the American Society of Mammalogists (2021) * Family Didelphidae ** Subfamily

*** Genus '' Glironia'' **** Bushy-tailed opossum (''Glironia venusta'') ** Subfamily Caluromyinae *** Genus '' Caluromys'' Cuíca-lanosa

Central American woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus) male

**** Subgenus ''Caluromys'' *****

Bare-tailed woolly opossum The bare-tailed woolly opossum (''Caluromys philander'') is an opossum from South America. It was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The bare-tailed woolly opossum is characterized by a gray head, brown to gray coat, o ...

(''Caluromys philander'') **** Subgenus ''Mallodelphys'' ***** Derby's woolly opossum (''Caluromys derbianus'') ***** Brown-eared woolly opossum (''Caluromys lanatus'') *** Genus '' Caluromysiops'' ****

Black-shouldered opossum The black-shouldered opossum (''Caluromysiops irrupta''), also known as the white-eared opossum, is an opossum known from western Brazil and southeastern Peru. It was first described by Colin Campbell Sanborn, curator of Field Museum of Natur ...

(''Caluromysiops irrupta'') ** Subfamily Hyladelphinae *** Genus '' Hyladelphys'' **** Kalinowski's mouse opossum (''Hyladelphys kalinowskii'') *** Genus †'' Sairadelphys'' **** †''Sairadelphys tocantinensis'' ** Subfamily

Didelphinae The Didelphinae are a subfamily of opossums consisting of 15 genera and 123 species. Specimens have been collected throughout the Americas, but are predominant in South and Central America. Some sources call this subfamily the "American opossu ...

*** Tribe

Metachirini The brown four-eyed opossum (''Metachirus nudicaudatus'') is a pouch (marsupial), pouchless marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It is found in different forested habitats of Central America, Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Brazil an ...

Vieraugen-Opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)

**** Genus '' Metachirus'' ***** Guianan brown four-eyed opossum (''Metachirus nudicaudatus'') ***** Common brown four-eyed opossum (''Metachirus myosuros'') *** Tribe Didelphini Schwimmbeutler-drawing2

**** Genus ''

Chironectes The water opossum (''Chironectes minimus''), also locally known as the yapok (), is a marsupial of the family Didelphidae.* It is the only living member of its genus, ''Chironectes''. This semiaquatic creature is found in and near freshwater ...

'' ***** Water opossum or

yapok The water opossum (''Chironectes minimus''), also locally known as the yapok (), is a marsupial of the family Didelphidae.* It is the only living member of its genus, ''Chironectes''. This semiaquatic creature is found in and near freshwater ...

(''Chironectes minimus'') **** Unnamed subgroup ***** Genus ''

'' ****** †''

Lutreolina biforata ''Lutreolina'' is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name ''Lutreolina'', which i ...

'' ******

Big lutrine opossum The big lutrine opossum (''Lutreolina crassicaudata''), also known as the little water opossum, comadreja colorada, thick-tailed opossum, or coligrueso is an opossum species from South America in the genus ''Lutreolina''. Description The big ...

or little water opossum (''Lutreolina crassicaudata'') Cambridge Natural History Mammalia Fig 084

****** †''

Lutreolina materdei ''Lutreolina'' is a genus of opossum found in South America. Both extant species in this genus are known as lutrine opossums. They have an otter-like body plan and occasionally semiaquatic tendencies, hence the genus name ''Lutreolina'', which i ...

'' ******

Massoia's lutrine opossum Massoia's lutrine opossum (''Lutreolina massoia'') is a species of opossum native to South America. Taxonomy It was formerly considered a Disjunct distribution, disjunct population of the lutrine opossum (''L. crassicaudata''), but a 2014 stu ...

(''Lutreolina massoia'') ***** †Genus '' Hyperdidelphys'' ****** †'' Hyperdidelphys dimartinoi'' ****** †'' Hyperdidelphys inexpectata'' ****** †'' Hyperdidelphys parvula'' ****** †'' Hyperdidelphys pattersoni'' **** Unnamed subgroup ***** Genus '' Didelphis'' Didelphis albiventris, Bahia, Brazil

Didelphis aurita photo-Christian Roger Dockhorn

******

White-eared opossum The white-eared opossum (''Didelphis albiventris''), known as the timbu in Brazil and comadreja overa in Argentina, is an opossum species found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is a terrestrial and, sometimes, arboreal ani ...

(''Didelphis albiventris'') ******

Big-eared opossum The big-eared opossum (''Didelphis aurita'') also known as a saruê is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. This species, which was considered a population of the common opossum (''D. marsupia ...

(''Didelphis aurita'') ******

Guianan white-eared opossum The Guianan white-eared opossum (''Didelphis imperfecta'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana and Venezuela. Possessing the smallest distribution area of its genus, this species is endemic ...

(''Didelphis imperfecta'') ******

Common opossum The common opossum (''Didelphis marsupialis''), also called the southern or black-eared opossum or gambá, and sometimes called a possum, is a marsupial species living from the northeast of Mexico to Bolivia (reaching the coast of the South Paci ...

(''Didelphis marsupialis'') ****** Andean white-eared opossum (''Didelphis pernigra'') ****** †''Didelphis solimoensis'' ****** Virginia opossum (''Didelphis virginiana'') ***** Genus '' Philander'' Cuica verdadeira2

******

Anderson's four-eyed opossum Anderson's four-eyed opossum (''Philander andersoni'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Its dorsal fur is dark, with a black stripe, about 3–4 cm wide, going vertica ...

(''Philander andersoni'') ****** Common four-eyed opossum (''Philander canus'') ****** Deltaic four-eyed opossum (''Philander deltae'') ****** Southeastern four-eyed opossum (''Philander frenatus'') ****** McIlhenny's four-eyed opossum (''Philander mcilhennyi'') ****** Dark four-eyed opossum (''Philander melanurus'') ****** Mondolfi's four-eyed opossum (''Philander mondolfii'') ****** Black four-eyed opossum (''Philander nigratus'') ****** Olrog's four-eyed opossum (''Philander olrogi'') ****** Gray four-eyed opossum (''Philander opossum'') ****** Pebas four-eyed opossum (''Philander pebas'') ****** Northern four-eyed opossum (''Philander vossi'') ***** †Genus ''

'' ****** †'' Thylophorops chapadmalensis'' ****** †'' Thylophorops lorenzinii'' ****** †'' Thylophorops perplana'' *** Tribe Marmosini **** Genus †'' Hesperocynus'' ***** †'' Hesperocynus dolgopolae'' **** Genus '' Marmosa'' ***** Subgenus ''Marmosa'' Marmosa robinsoni

****** Heavy-browed mouse opossum (''Marmosa andersoni'') ******

Isthmian mouse opossum The Isthmian mouse opossum (''Marmosa isthmica'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.Fiona A. Reid, ''A field guide to the mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico'' (OUP USA, 2009)p ...

(''Marmosa isthmica'') ****** Rufous mouse opossum (''Marmosa lepida'') ******

Mexican mouse opossum The Mexican mouse opossum (''Marmosa mexicana'') is a species of North American opossum in the family Didelphidae. Description ''Marmosa mexicana'' is a small to moderate-sized reddish-brown marsupial, varying from bright to dull coloration. ...

(''Marmosa mexicana'') ******

Linnaeus's mouse opossum Linnaeus's mouse opossum (''Marmosa murina''), also known as the common or murine mouse opossum, is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Range and habitat Its range includes Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guy ...

(''Marmosa murina'') ******

Quechuan mouse opossum The Quechuan mouse opossum (''Marmosa macrotarsus'') is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae. It is known from two areas of montane forest on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru, at altitudes from 300 to 2700 m. The ...

(''Marmosa quichua'') ******

Robinson's mouse opossum Robinson's mouse opossum (''Marmosa robinsoni'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Grenada, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Robinson's mouse opossums move a ...

(''Marmosa robinsoni'') ******

Red mouse opossum The red mouse opossum (''Marmosa rubra'') is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Its range includes eastern Ecuador and Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Pe ...

(''Marmosa rubra'') ****** Simon's mouse opossum (''Marmosa simonsi'') ****** Tyler's mouse opossum (''Marmosa tyleriana'') ****** Waterhouse's mouse opossum (''Marmosa waterhousei'') ******

Guajira mouse opossum The Guajira mouse opossum (''Marmosa xerophila'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivar ...

(''Marmosa xerophila'') ****** Zeledon's mouse opossum (''Marmosa zeledoni'') ****** Adler’s mouse opossum (''Marmosa adleri)'' ***** Subgenus ''Micoureus'' Cuíca - Marmosa paraguayana cropped

****** Alston's woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa alstoni'') ******

White-bellied woolly mouse opossum The white-bellied woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa constantiae'') is a small pouchless marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It was formerly assigned to the genus '' Micoureus'', which was made a subgenus of ''Marmosa'' in 2009. The specific epith ...

(''Marmosa constantiae'') ****** Northeastern woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa demerarae'') ****** Northwestern woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa germana'') ****** Jansa's woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa jansae'') ******†'' Marmosa laventica'' ****** Brazilian woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa limae'') ****** Merida woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa meridae'') ******

Tate's woolly mouse opossum Tate's woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa paraguayana'') is an omnivorous, arboreal South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae, named after American zoologist George Henry Hamilton Tate. It is native to Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil ...

(''Marmosa paraguayanus'') ****** Peruvian woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa parda'') ****** Anthony's woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa perplexa'') ****** Little woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa phaeus'') ****** Bolivian woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa rapposa'') ******

Bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum The bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa regina'') or short-furred woolly mouse opossum is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. Its range includes Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It is found in tropic ...

(''Marmosa rutteri'') **** Genus '' Monodelphis'' Monodelphis dimidiata

*****

Sepia short-tailed opossum The sepia short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis adusta'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link= ...

(''Monodelphis adusta'') *****

Northern three-striped opossum The northern three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis americana'') is an opossum species from South America. It is endemic to Atlantic Forest The Atlantic Forest ( pt, Mata Atlântica) is a South American forest that extends along the Atlant ...

(''Monodelphis americana'') ***** Arlindo's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis arlindoi'') *****

Northern red-sided opossum The northern red-sided opossum or the Guianan short-tailed opossum, ''Monodelphis brevicaudata'', is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil. French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. Characteristics Body le ...

(''Monodelphis brevicaudata'') *****

Yellow-sided opossum The yellow-sided opossum (''Monodelphis dimidiata'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. They have grey or black fur on their dorsal side with yellowish fur on the lateral side that continue ...

(''Monodelphis dimidiata'') ***** Gray short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis domestica'') *****

Emilia's short-tailed opossum Emilia's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis emiliae'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.s ...

(''Monodelphis emiliae'') ***** Amazonian red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis glirina'') ***** Handley's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis handleyi'') *****

Ihering's three-striped opossum Ihering's three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis iheringi''), is an opossum species found in Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South Americ ...

(''Monodelphis iheringi'') *****

Pygmy short-tailed opossum The pygmy short-tailed opossum, scientifically named ''Monodelphis kunsi,'' is an opossum species from South America. ''M. kunsi'' is a marsupial from the family Didelphidae of the order Didelphimorphia. Although it is a marsupial, it lacks th ...

(''Monodelphis kunsi'') ***** Marajó short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis maraxina'') ***** Osgood's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis osgoodi'') *****

Hooded red-sided opossum The hooded red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis palliolata'') is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae. Until recently, it was viewed as a subspecies of '' M. brevicaudata''. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela at altitudes ...

(''Monodelphis palliolata'') *****

Long-nosed short-tailed opossum The long-nosed short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis scalops''), is an opossum species in Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. ...

(''Monodelphis pinocchio'') ***** Reig's opossum ''(Monodelphis reigi)'' *****

Ronald's opossum Ronald's opossum (''Monodelphis ronaldi'') is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae. It was discovered in 2004, and most closely resembles '' M. adusta''. It is known only from Manú National Park, Peru, where it inhabits t ...

(''Monodelphis ronaldi'') *****

Chestnut-striped opossum The chestnut-striped opossum (''Monodelphis rubida'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil. More specifically, it is found in East and Central Brazil, including areas such as Goiás, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo. It i ...

(''Monodelphis rubida'') ***** Saci short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis saci'') *****

Santa Rosa short-tailed opossum Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...

(''Monodelphis sanctaerosae'') *****

(''Monodelphis scalops'') ***** Southern red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis sorex'') ***** Southern three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis theresa'') ***** Touan short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis touan'') *****

Red three-striped opossum The red three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis umbristriata'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in bo ...

(''Monodelphis umbristriata'') *****

One-striped opossum The one-striped opossum (''Monodelphis unistriata'') is a possibly extinct opossum species from South America. It is known only from two specimens found in Brazil in 1821 and Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( ...

(''Monodelphis unistriata'') ***** Voss's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis vossi'') **** Genus †'' Sparassocynus'' ***** †'' Sparassocynus bahiai'' ***** †'' Sparassocynus derivatus'' ***** †'' Sparassocynus maimarai'' ***** †'' Sparassocynus heterotopicus'' **** Genus †'' Thylatheridium'' ***** †'' Thylatheridium cristatum'' ***** †'' Thylatheridium hudsoni'' ***** †'' Thylatheridium pascuali'' **** Genus ''

Tlacuatzin The grayish mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin canescens'') is a species of opossum endemic to Mexico. It is the sole species in the genus ''Tlacuatzin''. Description The grayish mouse opossum is an unusually small opossum, measuring in total length, ...

'' ***** Balsas gray mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin balsasensis'') ***** Tehuantepec gray mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin canescens'') ***** Yucatan gray mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin gaumeri'') ***** Tres Marías gray mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin insularis'') ***** Northern gray mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin sinaloae'') **** †Genus '' Zygolestes'' ***** †'' Zygolestes tatei'' *** Tribe Thylamyini **** Genus ''

Chacodelphys The Chacoan pygmy opossum (''Chacodelphys formosa'') is a recently described genus and species of didelphimorph marsupial. The only species in ''Chacodelphys'', ''C. formosa'', was known until 2004 from only one specimen collected in 1920 in the ...

'' *****

Chacoan pygmy opossum The Chacoan pygmy opossum (''Chacodelphys formosa'') is a recently described genus and species of didelphimorph marsupial. The only species in ''Chacodelphys'', ''C. formosa'', was known until 2004 from only one specimen collected in 1920 in the ...

(''Chacodelphys formosa'') **** Genus ''

Cryptonanus ''Cryptonanus'' is a genus of opossums from South America. It includes five species found from Bolivia to Uruguay and eastern Brazil, one of which is now extinct. Although the first species were discovered in 1931, the genus was not recognized a ...

'' *****

Agricola's gracile opossum Agricola's gracile opossum (''Cryptonanus agricolai'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae endemic to eastern Brazil. Its habitat is the caatinga and cerrado The ''Cerrado'' (, ) is a vast ecoregion of tropical savanna in east ...

(''Cryptonanus agricolai'') *****

Chacoan gracile opossum The chacoan gracile opossum (''Cryptonanus chacoensis'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is native to Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Its habitat is seasonally flooded grasslands and forests in and near the Gran Chaco ...

(''Cryptonanus chacoensis'') *****

Guahiba gracile opossum The Guahiba gracile opossum (''Cryptonanus guahybae'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is endemic to southern Brazil, where it is known only from three islands, Guahiba, São Lourenço, and Taquara, in the state of Rio Gra ...

(''Cryptonanus guahybae'') ***** †

Red-bellied gracile opossum The red-bellied gracile opossum (''Cryptonanus ignitus'') is an extinct species of opossum that was native to Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is ...

(''Cryptonanus ignitus'') *****

Unduavi gracile opossum The Unduavi gracile opossum (''Cryptonanus unduaviensis'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is native to northern Bolivia, where it has been found in seasonally flooded grassland Flooded grasslands and savannas is a terr ...

(''Cryptonanus unduaviensis'') **** Genus ''

Gracilinanus ''Gracilinanus'' is a genus of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It was separated from the genus ''Marmosa The 27 species in the genus ''Marmosa'' are relatively small Neotropical members of the family Didelphidae. This genus is one of t ...

'' ***** Aceramarca gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus aceramarcae'') *****

Agile gracile opossum The agile gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus agilis''), is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is nocturnal, arboreal and frequents the forest understory, w ...

(''Gracilinanus agilis'') *****

Wood sprite gracile opossum The wood sprite gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus dryas'') is a mammal. It is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threa ...

(''Gracilinanus dryas'') *****

Emilia's gracile opossum Emilia's gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus emiliae'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republ ...

(''Gracilinanus emilae'') *****

Northern gracile opossum The northern gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus marica'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest A forest is an area of ...

(''Gracilinanus marica'') *****

Brazilian gracile opossum The Brazilian gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus microtarsus'') is a species of small opossum from Brazil. Description Brazilian gracile opossums are relatively small opossums, with males ranging from and females from in head-body length. The t ...

(''Gracilinanus microtarsus'') ***** Peruvian opossum (''Gracilinanus peruanus'') **** Genus ''

Lestodelphys The Patagonian opossum ''(Lestodelphys halli)'' is the sole species in genus ''Lestodelphys''. Distribution The Patagonian opossum occurs further south, in Argentina, than any other living marsupial. Although distributed throughout some parts of ...

'' *****

(''Lestodelphys halli'') **** Genus ''

Marmosops ''Marmosops'' is a genus of Neotropical opossums of the family Didelphidae. The genus was originally treated as a subgenus from the genus ''Marmosa'' rather than having their own classification. This was changed in 1989 by Gardner and Crieghton ...

*****

Bishop's slender opossum Bishop's slender opossum (''Marmosops bishopi'') is a small, arboreal marsupial opossum native to Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. It somewhat resembles a placental rat or shrew Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in ...

(''Marmosops bishopi'') *****

Carr's slender opossum Carr's is a British biscuit and cracker (food), cracker manufacturer, currently owned by Pladis, Pladis Global through its subsidiary United Biscuits. The company was founded in 1831 by Jonathan Dodgson Carr and is marketed in the United States ...

(''Marmosops carri'') ***** Cordillera slender opossum (''Marmosops chucha'') ***** Narrow-headed slender opossum (''Marmosops cracens'') *****

Creighton's slender opossum Creighton's slender opossum (''Marmosops creightoni''), also known commonly as Voss' slender opossum is a species of South American opossum of the family Didelphidae. It is known only from the valley of the Rio Zongo in La Paz Department, Bol ...

(''Marmosops creightoni'') *****

Dorothy's slender opossum Dorothy's slender opossum (''Marmosops dorothea'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Brazil and Bolivia. It is threatened by habitat loss. Recent research suggests that ''M. dorothea'' is a synonym of ''M. nocti ...

(''Marmosops dorothea'') *****

Dusky slender opossum The dusky slender opossum (''Marmosops fuscatus'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. It is threatened by habitat loss. References Opossums Mammals of the ...

(''Marmosops fuscatus'') ***** Handley's slender opossum (''Marmosops handleyi'') ***** Tschudi's slender opossum (''Marmosops impavidus'') ***** Gray slender opossum (''Marmosops incanus'') *****

Panama slender opossum The Panama slender opossum (''Marmosops invictus''), also known as the slaty slender mouse opossum, is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is endemic to Panama, where it has been found in tropical rainforest Tropical ra ...

(''Marmosops invictus'') ***** Junin slender opossum (''Marmosops juninensis'') ***** Río Magdalena slender opossum (''Marmosops magdalena'') ***** Silva's slender opossum (''Marmosops marina'') *****

Neblina slender opossum The neblina slender opossum (''Marmosops neblina'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and perhaps Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo naci ...

(''Marmosops neblina'') ***** White-bellied slender opossum (''Marmosops noctivagus'') ***** Ojasti's slender opossum (''Marmosops ojastii'') ***** Pantepui slender opossum (''Marmosops pakaraimae'') ***** Delicate slender opossum (''Marmosops parvidens'') *****

Brazilian slender opossum The Brazilian slender opossum (''Marmosops paulensis'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in moist montane forest in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil, including the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, S ...

(''Marmosops paulensis'') *****

Pinheiro's slender opossum Pinheiro's slender opossum (''Marmosops pinheiroi'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, li ...

(''Marmosops pinheiroi'') ***** Soini's slender opossum (''Marmosops soinii'') ***** Woodall's slender opossum (''Marmosops woodalli'') **** Genus ''

Thylamys ''Thylamys'' is a genus of opossums in the family Didelphidae. The premaxillae are rounded rather than pointed. The females lack a pouch. The females' nipples are arranged in two symmetrical rows on the abdomen. All species but ''T. macrurus'' ...

***** †'' Thylamys colombianus'' *****

Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum The Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys cinderella'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in northern Argentina and southern Bolivia, in the eastern foothills of the Andes. Its dorsal fur is gray brown to ...

(''Thylamys cinderella'') ***** Mesopotamian fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys citellus'') *****

Elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum The elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys elegans''), also known as the Chilean mouse opossum, is an opossum from central Chile. The type species of '' Thylamys'', it was first described by English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse in 1 ...

(''Thylamys elegans'') ***** Karimi's fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys karimii'') *****

Paraguayan fat-tailed mouse opossum The Paraguayan fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys macrurus'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in forested areas of Brazil and Paraguay. It is known only from a few specimens. For two listed specimens, one had ...

(''Thylamys macrurus'') ***** †'' Thylamys minutus'' *****

White-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum The white-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys pallidior'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Taxonomy and etymology The white-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum is a ...

(''Thylamys pallidior'') ***** Dry Chaco fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys pulchellus'') ***** †'' Thylamys pinei'' ***** Chacoan fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys pusillus'') *****

Argentine fat-tailed mouse opossum The Argentine fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys sponsorius'') was formerly considered a species opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in the eastern foothills of the Andes in northern Argentina and southern Bolivia. Its dorsal fur i ...

(''Thylamys sponsorius'') *****

Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys tatei'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae, named after American zoologist George Henry Hamilton Tate. It is found at elevations of 300 to 3,000 m along the coast of central Peru ...

(''Thylamys tatei'') *****

Dwarf fat-tailed mouse opossum The dwarf fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys velutinus''), also known as the velvety fat-tailed opossum is an opossum species from South America. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is found in cerrado and caatinga habitats. Its head-and-body le ...

(''Thylamys velutinus'') *****

Buff-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum The buff-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys venustus'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in the transitional and humid forests of northern Argentina and southern Bolivia. Its dorsal fur is cinnamon brow ...

(''Thylamys venustus'') ***** †'' Thylamys zettii''

References

External links

"Possums or Opossums?"
��on Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa * {{Authority control Extant Miocene first appearances Marsupials of Central America Marsupials of North America Marsupials of South America Marsupials Miocene mammals of South America Taxa named by John Edward Gray