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Didelphidae

Also known as Opossums, opossum, possum, 'possum, Didelphys

Opossums () are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia () endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 126 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 in the late Cenozoic.

AI overview

Didelphidae is the family that includes opossums, a group of marsupials found only in the Americas with 126 species across 18 genera, making them the largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere. These animals originated in South America and later spread to North America after the two continents connected millions of years ago.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

Didelphidae

FAMILY

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderDidelphimorphia
FamilyDidelphidae

Observations recorded179,341

負鼠科（学名：Didelphidae）是哺乳纲负鼠目的一科，是一类生活在美洲的有袋動物，現今共有67個物種，分佈幾乎遍及南美洲各地，其中有一種即北美負鼠進入了北美洲，在美國和加拿大分佈亦極其廣泛。

via GBIF

Research

5,242 papers

Gastrointestinal helminths of opossums (Mammalia: Didelphidae) from Bolivia.Parasitology · 2024Jiménez FA, Campbell ML, Byles B et al.DOI: 10.1017/S0031182024000490
Anomalous colour in Neotropical mammals: a review with new records for Didelphis sp. (Didelphidae, Didelphimorphia) and Arctocephalus australis (Otariidae, Carnivora).ReviewBrazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia · 2013Abreu MS, Machado R, Barbieri F et al.DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842013000100020
Functional-adaptive anatomy of the forelimb in the Didelphidae, and the paleobiology of the Paleocene marsupials Mayulestes ferox and Pucadelphys andinus.ReviewJournal of morphology · 2001Argot CDOI: 10.1002/1097-4687(200101)247:1<51::AID-JMOR1003>3.0.CO;2-#
Ontogeny of the masticatory muscles in the opossum Didelphis albiventris (Marsupialia, Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae).Journal of anatomy · 2024Abreu JAFH, Astúa DDOI: 10.1111/joa.14109
Extreme bilateral molar rotation in Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia: Didelphidae).ReviewArchives of oral biology · 1997Van Nievelt AF, Smith KKDOI: 10.1016/s0003-9969(97)00048-4
Modelling marsupial mastication: The biomechanical bite model of the Linnaeus's mouse opossum Marmosa murina (Marsupialia, Didelphidae).Journal of anatomy · 2025Decuypere V, Herrel A, Grimal Q et al.DOI: 10.1111/joa.70003
Didelphid behavior.ReviewNeuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 1997Kimble DPDOI: 10.1016/s0149-7634(96)00016-4
Marmosa paraguayana (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) as a new host for Gracilioxyuris agilisis (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) in Brazil.The Journal of parasitology · 2012Santos-Rondon MV, Pires MM, dos Reis SF et al.DOI: 10.1645/GE-2902.1

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Wikidata facts

Image: Opossum 2.jpg

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Didelphidae
taxon name: Didelphidae
Commons gallery: Didelphidae
period of lactation: 85
gestation period: 12.5
litter size: 21.5
taxon common name: Опоссумовые

Sources (4)

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~25 min read

Article

12 sections

Contents

Etymology
Evolution
Characteristics
Reproduction and life cycle
Behavior
Diet
Range and habitat
Hunting and foodways
Classification
See also
References
External links

The Virginia opossum is the only species found in the United States and Canada. It is often simply referred to as an opossum; in North America, it is commonly referred to as a possum (; sometimes rendered as possum in written form to indicate the dropped "o"). The Australasian arboreal marsupials of suborder Phalangeriformes are also called possums because of their resemblance to opossums, but they belong to a different order. The opossum is typically a nonaggressive animal and almost never carries the virus that causes rabies.