How to Identify Didelphidae

Didelphidae is a animal family in the Animalia kingdom, order Didelphimorphia, class Mammalia. The family contains 16 accepted species worldwide.

Key Identification Features

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Representative Didelphidae Species

How to identify Didelphis virginiana Kerr, 1792

Didelphis virginiana Kerr, 1792

Didelphis virginiana Kerr, 1792

Didelphis virginiana, the Virginia opossum, is a North American marsupial with a…

How to identify Didelphis pernigra J.A.Allen, 1900

Didelphis pernigra J.A.Allen, 1900

Didelphis pernigra J.A.Allen, 1900

The Andean white-eared opossum (Didelphis pernigra) is a South American opossum …

How to identify Caluromys philander (Linnaeus, 1758)

Caluromys philander (Linnaeus, 1758)

Caluromys philander (Linnaeus, 1758)

Caluromys philander, the bare-tailed woolly opossum, is a didelphid marsupial fo…

How to identify Caluromys lanatus (Olfers, 1818)

Caluromys lanatus (Olfers, 1818)

Caluromys lanatus (Olfers, 1818)

Caluromys lanatus, the brown-eared woolly opossum, is a Neotropical didelphid op…

How to identify Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840

Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840

Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840

Didelphis albiventris, the white-eared opossum, is an omnivorous marsupial found…

How to identify Marmosa robinsoni Bangs, 1898

Marmosa robinsoni Bangs, 1898

Marmosa robinsoni Bangs, 1898

Marmosa robinsoni is a small didelphid opossum found in Central and northern Sou…

How to identify Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758

Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758

Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758

Didelphis marsupialis, the common opossum, is a large New World marsupial with d…

How to identify Didelphis aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1826)

Didelphis aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1826)

Didelphis aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1826)

Didelphis aurita, the big-eared opossum, is a South American opossum species fou…

How to identify Marmosa mexicana Merriam, 1897

Marmosa mexicana Merriam, 1897

Marmosa mexicana Merriam, 1897

Marmosa mexicana is a small Central American mouse opossum with a prehensile equ…

How to identify Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839)

Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839)

Thylamys elegans (Waterhouse, 1839)

Thylamys elegans, the elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum, is a medium-sized crepus…

How to identify Philander opossum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Philander opossum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Philander opossum (Linnaeus, 1758)

The gray four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum) is a Neotropical didelphid marsup…

How to identify Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister, 1854)

Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister, 1854)

Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister, 1854)

Gracilinanus agilis, the agile gracile opossum, is a South American semelparous …

Browse all 16 Didelphidae species →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify Didelphidae?

Didelphidae animals belong to the Didelphimorphia order in the Animalia kingdom. A distinct narrow dark brown stripe runs between the eyes and ears, extending from the tip of the nose to the back of the ears. For instant identification, use the iNature app — AI-powered and works offline.

What are the key characteristics of Didelphidae?

Didelphidae is classified in the order Didelphimorphia, class Mammalia, phylum Chordata. Key features of this species include white limbs, a gray to light brown coat, lighter-colored flanks and underbelly, and a thick, hairy tail that measures 12.

Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia · Disclaimer

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