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Didelphidae - Opossums

There are about 95 species of opossums in this family. Marsupials are found in Australia and North and South America.

Opossums are marsupials. Marsupials have pouches. When female marsupials give birth, their young are blind, hairless, and helpless. They attach themselves to a teat in their mother’s pouch and suckle until they are large enough to emerge from her pouch.

North American marsupials are members of the Didelphimorphia order. Opossums are the only type of marsupial found in North, Central, and South America. Species include the western woolly opossum, the Patagonian opossum, the brown four-eyed opossum, and the bushy-tailed opossum.

  • The Central Mexican wooly opossum, also known as Derby's woolly opossum, is found from southern Mexico south through Central America and into Colombia and Ecuador. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Central American Woolly Opossum
    (Caluromys derbianus)
    The Central Mexican wooly opossum, also known as Derby's woolly opossum, is found from southern Mexico south through Central America and into Colombia and Ecuador. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The brown-eared wooly opossum is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Brown-Eared Wooly Opossum
    (Caluromys lanatus)
    The brown-eared wooly opossum is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The bare-tailed woolly opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Bare-Tailed Woolly Opossum
    (Caluromys philander)
    The bare-tailed woolly opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Agricola's Gracile Opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Data Deficient
    Agricola's Gracile Opossum
    (Cryptonanus agricolai)
    Agricola's Gracile Opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Data Deficient
  • The white-eared opossum is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-Eared Opossum
    (Didelphis albiventris)
    The white-eared opossum is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The big-eared opossum is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Big-Eared Opossum
    (Didelphis aurita)
    The big-eared opossum is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Guianan white-eared opossum is found in I Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. UCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Guianan White-Eared Opossum
    (Didelphis imperfecta)
    The Guianan white-eared opossum is found in I Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. UCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The southern opossum is found from eastern Mexico to northeastern Argentina. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Southern Opossum
    (Didelphis marsupialis)
    The southern opossum is found from eastern Mexico to northeastern Argentina. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Andean white-eared opossum is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Andean White-Eared Opossum
    (Didelphis pernigra)
    The Andean white-eared opossum is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial found in North America. It is found in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Virginia Opossum
    (Didelphis virginiana)
    The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial found in North America. It is found in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The agile gracile mouse opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Agile Gracile Mouse Opossum
    (Gracilinanus agilis)
    The agile gracile mouse opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Emilia's gracile mouse opossum is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Date Deficient
    Emilia's Gracile Mouse Opossum
    (Gracilinanus emiliae)
    Emilia's gracile mouse opossum is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Date Deficient
  • The little water opossum is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Little Water Opossum
    (Lutreolina crassicaudata)
    The little water opossum is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Mexican mouse opossum is found from southeastern Mexico south through most of Central America. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Mexican Mouse Opossum
    (Marmosa mexicana)
    The Mexican mouse opossum is found from southeastern Mexico south through most of Central America. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Linnaeus's mouse opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Linnaeus's Mouse Opossum
    (Marmosa murina)
    Linnaeus's mouse opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Robinson's mouse opossum is found in Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Robinson's Mouse Opossum
    (Marmosa robinsoni)
    Robinson's mouse opossum is found in Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The gray slender mouse opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Slender Mouse Opossum
    (Marmosops incanus)
    The gray slender mouse opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-bellied slender mouse opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-Bellied Slender Mouse Opossum
    (Marmosops noctivagus)
    The white-bellied slender mouse opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The three-striped short-tailed opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Three-Striped Short-Tailed Opossum
    (Monodelphis americana)
    The three-striped short-tailed opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The southern short-tailed opossum Is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Southern Short-Tailed Opossum
    (Monodelphis dimidiata)
    The southern short-tailed opossum Is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The long-nosed short-tailed opossum is found in Brazil and Argentina. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Long-Nosed Short-Tailed Opossum
    (Monodelphis scalops)
    The long-nosed short-tailed opossum is found in Brazil and Argentina. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Anderson's four-eyed opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Anderson's Four-Eyed Opossum
    (Philander andersoni)
    Anderson's four-eyed opossum is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The gray four-eyed opossum is found from southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Four-Eyed Opossum
    (Philander opossum)
    The gray four-eyed opossum is found from southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum is found in Chile. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Elegant Fat-Tailed Mouse Opossum
    (Thylamys elegans)
    The elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum is found in Chile. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Karimi's fat-tailed mouse opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Karimi's Fat-Tailed Mouse Opossum
    (Thylamys karimii)
    Karimi's fat-tailed mouse opossum is found in Brazil. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The Paraguayan fat-tailed mouse opossum is found in Brazil and Paraguay IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Paraguayan Fat-Tailed Mouse Opossum
    (Thylamys macrurus)
    The Paraguayan fat-tailed mouse opossum is found in Brazil and Paraguay IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The grayish mouse opossum is found in western Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Grayish Mouse Opossum
    (Tlacuatzin canescens)
    The grayish mouse opossum is found in western Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Opossums, like this gray slender mouse opossum, are the only type of marsupial found in North, Central, and South America.
Opossums, like this gray slender mouse opossum, are the only type of marsupial found in North, Central, and South America.

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