Opossums () are members of the

marsupial Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsupials are endemic to Australasia, Wallacea and the Americas. A distinctive characteristic common to most of these species is that the young are carried in a ...

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 d ...

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 els ...

to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the

Western Hemisphere The Western Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that lies west of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and east of the antimeridian. The other half is called the Eastern Hemisphere. Politically, th ...

, it comprises 93 species in 18

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

. Opossums originated in

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of North and South America. The

Virginia opossum The Virginia opossum (''Didelphis virginiana''), also known as the North American opossum, is the only opossum living north of Mexico, its range extending south into Central America. It is the northernmost marsupial in the world. In the United S ...

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 Australasian is the adjectival form of Australasia, a geographical region including Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continen ...

arboreal marsupials of suborder

Phalangeriformes Phalangeriformes is a paraphyletic suborder of about 70 species of small to medium-sized arboreal marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. The species are commonly known as possums, gliders, and cuscus. The common name "pos ...

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 John Smith is a common personal name. It is also commonly used as a placeholder name and pseudonym, and is sometimes used in the United States and the United Kingdom as a term for an average person. It may refer to: People :''In chronological ...

(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, the term ''possum'' was borrowed to describe distantly related Australian marsupials of the suborder

, 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

theria Theria (; Greek: , wild beast) is a subclass of mammals amongst the Theriiformes. Theria includes the eutherians (including the placental mammals) and the metatherians (including the marsupials) but excludes the egg-laying monotremes. C ...

n condition in comparative studies. However, this is inaccurate, as the oldest opossum fossils are from the early

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" ...

(roughly 20 million years old). The last common ancestor of all living opossums approximately dates to the

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but ...

-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 ''Alphadon'' (meaning "first tooth") is an extinct genus of small, primitive mammal that was a member of the metatherians, a group of mammals that includes modern-day marsupials. Its fossils were first discovered and named by George Gaylord ...

'', '' 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 Metatheria is a mammalian clade that includes all mammals more closely related to marsupials than to placentals. First proposed by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1880, it is a more inclusive group than the marsupials; it contains all marsupials as we ...

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 (fo ...

presently occupied by opossums were occupied by other groups of metatherians such as paucituberculatans 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 The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58carnivorans in South America. Most of these groups with the exception of '' Lutreolina'' 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

omnivore An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nut ...

s, 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 glandes.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 ...

and Patagonian opossum 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'', 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 num ...

, well-adapted to life in the trees or on the ground, but members of the Caluromyinae and Glironiinae are primarily arboreal, whereas species of '' Metachirus'', '' Monodelphis'', and to a lesser degree '' Didelphis'' show adaptations for life on the ground. ''

Metachirus nudicaudatus 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, including s ...

'', found in the upper

Amazon basin The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about , or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Boli ...

, consumes fruit seeds, small

vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxon, taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () (chordates with vertebral column, backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the ...

creatures like birds and reptiles and

invertebrate Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordate ...

s like crayfish and

snail A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class G ...

s, 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 In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hy ...

, 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 The placenta is a temporary embryonic and later fetal organ (anatomy), organ that begins embryonic development, developing from the blastocyst shortly after implantation (embryology), implantation. It plays critical roles in facilitating nutrien ...

, 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 Gestation is the period of development during the carrying of an embryo, and later fetus, inside viviparous animals (the embryo develops within the parent). It is typical for mammals, but also occurs for some non-mammals. Mammals during preg ...

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 Senescence () or biological aging is the gradual deterioration of functional characteristics in living organisms. The word ''senescence'' can refer to either cellular senescence or to senescence of the whole organism. Organismal senescence inv ...

is rapid. The

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

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 Motility is the ability of an organism to move independently, using metabolic energy. Definitions Motility, the ability of an organism to move independently, using metabolic energy, can be contrasted with sessility, the state of organisms th ...

. 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 tails, 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 The Crotalinae, commonly known as pit vipers,Mehrtens JM (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . crotaline snakes (from grc, κρόταλον ''krotalon'' castanet), or pit adders, are a subfa ...

) and regularly prey upon these snakes. This adaptation seems to be unique to the Didelphini, as their closest relative, the brown four-eyed opossum, is not immune to snake venom. Similar adaptations are seen in other small predatory mammals such as mongooses and hedgehogs. Didelphin opossums and crotaline vipers have been suggested to be in an

evolutionary arms race In evolutionary biology, an evolutionary arms race is an ongoing struggle between competing sets of co-evolving genes, phenotypic and behavioral traits that develop escalating adaptations and counter-adaptations against each other, resembling ...

. 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 The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. ...

, 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

. 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 tota ...

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

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 primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. 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 498,71 ...

to honor President-elect

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...

. 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, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 19 ...

hunted opossums in addition to other small game.

Raccoon The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the common raccoon to distinguish it from other species, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of , and a body weight o ...

, opossum, partridges,

prairie hen ''Tympanuchus'' is a small genus of birds in the grouse family. They are commonly referred to as prairie chickens. Taxonomy The genus ''Tympanuchus'' was introduced in 1841 by the German zoologist Constantin Wilhelm Lambert Gloger for the grea ...

and

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

s were among the fare

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

recorded as part of American cookery. In Dominica, Grenada,

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindi ...

and

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines () is an island country in the Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea ...

, the common opossum 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 The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the mo ...

Classification

Classification based on Voss and Jansa (2009), species based on the American Society of Mammalogists (2021) * Family Didelphidae ** Subfamily Glironiinae *** 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 (''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 Kalinowski's mouse opossum or the Peru gracile mouse opossum (''Hyladelphys kalinowskii'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropic ...

*** Genus '' Hyladelphys'' **** Kalinowski's mouse opossum (''Hyladelphys kalinowskii'') *** Genus †''

Sairadelphys ''Sairadelphys'' is an extinct genus of didelphine opossums from the Pleistocene of South America. Taxonomy ''Sairadelphys'' is a didelphine opossum, described as a sister taxon to '' Hyladelphys''. ''Sairadelphys tocantinensis'' is the ...

'' **** †''Sairadelphys tocantinensis'' ** Subfamily Didelphinae *** Tribe

Metachirini 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, including so ...

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'' ***** 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'' ****** †''

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 is ...

'' ******

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 bi ...

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 ...

'' ******

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 population of the lutrine opossum (''L. crassicaudata''), but a 2014 study determined it to ...

(''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, arbo ...

(''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. mars ...

(''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 ende ...

(''Didelphis imperfecta'') ****** Common opossum (''Didelphis marsupialis'') ******

Andean white-eared opossum The Andean white-eared opossum (''Didelphis pernigra'') is an opossum species from South America. It is found in the Andes Mountains, ranging from Venezuela to Bolivia. Together with the Guianan white-eared opossum (''D. imperfecta''), this spec ...

(''Didelphis pernigra'') ****** †''Didelphis solimoensis'' ******

(''Didelphis virginiana'') ***** Genus '' Philander'' Cuica verdadeira2

****** Anderson's four-eyed opossum (''Philander andersoni'') ******

Common four-eyed opossum Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally com ...

(''Philander canus'') ****** Deltaic four-eyed opossum (''Philander deltae'') ****** Southeastern four-eyed opossum (''Philander frenatus'') ******

McIlhenny's four-eyed opossum McIlhenny's four-eyed opossum (''Philander mcilhennyi'') is a South American species of Opossum. Found in Brazil and Peru, it is almost entirely black, except for white spots above each eye. This species is named for John Stauffer "Jack" McIlhen ...

(''Philander mcilhennyi'') ******

Dark four-eyed opossum Darkness, the direct opposite of lightness, is defined as a lack of lighting, illumination, an absence of visible spectrum, visible light, or a surface that absorbs light, such as black or brown. Human visual perception, vision is unable to di ...

(''Philander melanurus'') ******

Mondolfi's four-eyed opossum Mondolfi's four-eyed opossum (''Philander mondolfii'') is a South American species of opossum found in Colombia and Venezuela, first described in 2006. It inhabits foothills of the Cordillera de Mérida The Cordillera de Mérida is a series of ...

(''Philander mondolfii'') ******

Black 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 verticall ...

(''Philander nigratus'') ******

Olrog's four-eyed opossum Olrog's four-eyed opossum (''Philander olrogi'') is a South American species of opossum found in eastern Bolivia, first described in 2008 based on specimens collected in 1974. It inhabits the lowland Amazon rainforest, with an elevation range of ...

(''Philander olrogi'') ****** Gray four-eyed opossum (''Philander opossum'') ******

Pebas four-eyed opossum Pebas District is one of four districts of the province Mariscal Ramón Castilla in Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the St ...

(''Philander pebas'') ****** Northern four-eyed opossum (''Philander vossi'') ***** †Genus '' Thylophorops'' ****** †''

Thylophorops chapadmalensis ''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, ''Thy ...

'' ****** †''

Thylophorops lorenzinii ''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, ''Thy ...

'' ****** †''

Thylophorops perplana ''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, ''Th ...

'' *** Tribe Marmosini **** Genus †'' Hesperocynus'' ***** †'' Hesperocynus dolgopolae'' **** Genus '' Marmosa'' ***** Subgenus ''Marmosa'' Marmosa robinsoni

******

Heavy-browed mouse opossum The heavy-browed mouse opossum (''Marmosa andersoni''), or Anderson's mouse opossum, is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is endemic to a restricted range in southern Peru. This opossum inhabits forests; it is nocturnal and pr ...

(''Marmosa andersoni'') ****** Isthmian mouse opossum (''Marmosa isthmica'') ****** Rufous mouse opossum (''Marmosa lepida'') ****** Mexican mouse opossum (''Marmosa mexicana'') ****** Linnaeus's mouse opossum (''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 t ...

(''Marmosa quichua'') ****** Robinson's mouse opossum (''Marmosa robinsoni'') ****** Red mouse opossum (''Marmosa rubra'') ****** Simon's mouse opossum (''Marmosa simonsi'') ******

Tyler's mouse opossum Tyler's mouse opossum (''Marmosa tyleriana'') is a South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It lives in rainforests of the Guiana Highlands of southern Venezuela at elevations between 1300 and 2200 m. The species has only been found ...

(''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. References

Opossums Marsupials of South America Mammals of Colombia Mammals of Venezuela Mammals ...

(''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 (''Marmosa constantiae'') ****** Northeastern woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa demerarae'') ****** Northwestern woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa germana'') ****** Jansa's woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa jansae'') ******†''

Marmosa laventica The 27 species in the genus ''Marmosa'' are relatively small Neotropical members of the family Didelphidae. This genus is one of three that are known as mouse opossums. The others are ''Thylamys'' (the "fat-tailed mouse opossums") and '' Tlacuat ...

'' ******

Brazilian woolly mouse opossum Brazilian commonly refers to: * Something of, from or relating to Brazil * Brazilian Portuguese, the dialect of the Portuguese language used mostly in Brazil * Brazilians, the people (citizens) of Brazil, or of Brazilian descent Brazilian may also ...

(''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 C.R. Anthony Co., stores branded as Anthony's, was a chain of family-owned and - operated upscale department stores founded in 1922 in Cushing, Oklahoma by C.R Anthony. The company began expanding outside Oklahoma, first into Kansas in 1924, then ...

(''Marmosa perplexa'') ******

Little woolly mouse opossum The little woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa phaea'') is a nocturnal, arboreal and mainly solitary South American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It is native to the western slopes of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, where it lives at ...

(''Marmosa phaeus'') ****** Bolivian woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa rapposa'') ****** Bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum (''Marmosa rutteri'') **** Genus '' Monodelphis'' Monodelphis dimidiata

***** Sepia short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis adusta'') ***** Northern three-striped opossum (''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 leng ...

(''Monodelphis brevicaudata'') ***** Yellow-sided opossum (''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.svg ...

(''Monodelphis emiliae'') *****

Amazonian red-sided opossum The Amazonian red-sided opossum (''Monodelphis glirina'') is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae, formerly viewed as part of '' M. brevicaudata''. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, where it inhabits the Amazon ra ...

(''Monodelphis glirina'') ***** Handley's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis handleyi'') ***** Ihering's three-striped opossum (''Monodelphis iheringi'') ***** Pygmy short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis kunsi'') *****

Marajó short-tailed opossum The Marajó short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis maraxina'') is an opossum species from South America. It is endemic to Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in ...

(''Monodelphis maraxina'') *****

Osgood's short-tailed opossum Osgood's short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis osgoodi'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical dry ...

(''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 Opossums () are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia () endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 9 ...

(''Monodelphis pinocchio'') *****

Reig's opossum Reig's opossum (''Monodelphis reigi'') is a South American opossum species of the family Didelphidae, discovered in 2004. It is named after Argentine biologist Osvaldo Reig (1929–1992). It was initially found in montane forest in Canaima Nati ...

''(Monodelphis reigi)'' ***** Ronald's opossum (''Monodelphis ronaldi'') ***** Chestnut-striped opossum (''Monodelphis rubida'') *****

Saci short-tailed opossum The Saci short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis saci''), also known as gnome opossum, is a species of opossum endemism, endemic to the rainforests of Brazil. Characteristics They measure from their nose to the base of the tail. The tail measures ...

(''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 legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

(''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 bot ...

(''Monodelphis umbristriata'') ***** One-striped opossum (''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 Tres may refer to: * Tres (instrument), a Cuban musical instrument * Tres, Trentino, municipality in Italy * "Tres" (song) by Juanes * "Tres", a song by Líbido from their album ''Hembra'' * TrES, the ''Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey'' * Templi R ...

(''Tlacuatzin insularis'') ***** Northern gray mouse opossum (''Tlacuatzin sinaloae'') **** †Genus '' Zygolestes'' ***** †'' Zygolestes tatei'' *** Tribe Thylamyini **** Genus '' Chacodelphys'' *****

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'' *****

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 easte ...

(''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 Grand ...

(''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), ...

(''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 te ...

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

Aceramarca gracile opossum The Aceramarca gracile opossum or Bolivian gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus aceramarcae'') is a species of opossum. It is native to Bolivia and Peru, where it occurs in tropical elfin forest habitat. This opossum is mostly arboreal, but it may ...

(''Gracilinanus aceramarcae'') ***** Agile gracile opossum (''Gracilinanus agilis'') ***** Wood sprite gracile opossum (''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 French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) i ...

(''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 Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions i ...

(''Gracilinanus marica'') ***** Brazilian gracile opossum (''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 ...

'' ***** Patagonian opossum (''Lestodelphys halli'') **** Genus '' Marmosops'' Marmosops incanus

***** Bishop's slender opossum (''Marmosops bishopi'') *****

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

(''Marmosops carri'') *****

Cordillera slender opossum A cordillera is an extensive chain and/or network system of mountain ranges, such as those in the west coast of the Americas. The term is borrowed from Spanish, where the word comes from , a diminutive of ('rope'). The term is most commonly us ...

(''Marmosops chucha'') *****

Narrow-headed slender opossum The narrow-headed slender opossum (''Marmosops cracens'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is endemic to Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana ...

(''Marmosops cracens'') ***** Creighton's slender opossum (''Marmosops creightoni'') ***** Dorothy's slender opossum (''Marmosops dorothea'') ***** Dusky slender opossum (''Marmosops fuscatus'') ***** Handley's slender opossum (''Marmosops handleyi'') ***** Tschudi's slender opossum (''Marmosops impavidus'') ***** Gray slender opossum (''Marmosops incanus'') ***** Panama slender opossum (''Marmosops invictus'') ***** Junin slender opossum (''Marmosops juninensis'') *****

Río Magdalena slender opossum Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...

(''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 nacio ...

(''Marmosops neblina'') *****

White-bellied slender opossum The white-bellied slender opossum (''Marmosops noctivagus'') is a 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 ...

(''Marmosops noctivagus'') ***** Ojasti's slender opossum (''Marmosops ojastii'') *****

Pantepui slender opossum A tepui , or tepuy (), is a table-top mountain or mesa found in South America, especially in Venezuela and western Guyana. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran S ...

(''Marmosops pakaraimae'') ***** Delicate slender opossum (''Marmosops parvidens'') ***** Brazilian slender opossum (''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, link ...

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

***** †''

Thylamys colombianus ''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'' ...

'' ***** Cinderella fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys cinderella'') ***** Mesopotamian fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys citellus'') ***** Elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys elegans'') ***** Karimi's fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys karimii'') ***** Paraguayan fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys macrurus'') ***** †''

Thylamys minutus ''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'' ...

'' ***** White-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys pallidior'') *****

Dry Chaco fat-tailed mouse opossum Dry or dryness most often refers to: * Lack of rainfall, which may refer to **Arid regions **Drought * Dry or dry area, relating to legal prohibition of selling, serving, or imbibing alcoholic beverages * Dry humor, deadpan * Dryness (medical) * ...

(''Thylamys pulchellus'') ***** †''

Thylamys pinei ''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'' ...

'' ***** Chacoan fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys pusillus'') ***** Argentine fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys sponsorius'') ***** Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum (''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 len ...

(''Thylamys velutinus'') ***** Buff-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum (''Thylamys venustus'') ***** †''

Thylamys zettii ''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'' ...

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