Page 118 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

Opossums are a large group of marsupials of which 126 species in 1 family and 18 genera are mem-
bers of the order Didelphimorphia, while the monito del monte and shrew opossums are found in the
families, Caenolestidae* and Microbiotheriidae**.
some species are said to be on islands in the Pacific. The largest of the species is the, Virginia opossum
*Family Caenolestidae shrew/O ( 6
species also known as the Rat/O)
**Family Microbiotheriidae monito
del monte/O (1 species)
Order Didelphimorphia is composed
of 1 family and 18 genera.
Family Didelphidae – /Opossum
Subfamily Caluromyinae
Genus Caluromys - wooly/O
Genus Caluromysiops - black-
shouldered/O
Subfamily Glironiinae
Genus Glironia - bushy-tailed/O
Subfamily Hyladelphinae
Genus Hyladelphys - Kalinowski's
mouse/O
Subfamily Didelphinae
Tribe Metachirini
Genus Metachirus - brown four-
eyed/O
Tribe Didelphini
Genus Chironectes - water/O
Genus Didelphis
Genus Lutreolina - latrine/O
Genus Philander - grey and black
four-eyed/O
Tribe Marmosini
Genus Marmosa - mouse/O
Genus Monodelphis - short-tailed/O
Genus Tlacuatzin - greyish mouse/O
Tribe Thylamyini
Genus Chacodelphys - Chacoan pyg-
my/O
Genus Cryptonanus
Genus Gracilinanus - gracile/O
Genus Lestodelphys - Patagonian/O
Genus Marmosops - slender/O
Genus Thylamys - fat-tailed mouse/
O dents, like mice and rats are placental mammals.
All species are endemic to the Americas, though
(sometimes incorrectly referred to as ’Pos-
sums’), found solely in North America and
measures around 33 to 55 cm in length and
weighs around 2.1 to 2.8 kg. The repre-
sentative smallest, (Not to be confused with
the ‘Possum’ of the family Burramyidae) is
the, Pygmy short-tailed opossum, found in
Brazil and Bolivia in Central America, rang-
ing from 71 to 94 mm in length and weighs
around 19 grams.
Opossums are a very diverse small to
medium-sized animal. They have a narrow
but rounded top head with many having a
long pointed snout with jaws lined with
around fifty teeth. Most have large hairless ears and prominent
round dark eyes. They have four thin but agile limbs, with splayed
long toed feet, brandishing claws on the front toes but none on the
rear. They all have tails. Most are long, thin and bare; some are
bushy like those of the genus Glironia while those of the genus
Thylamys, who store fat in theirs, can have thick heavy tails. Many
have prehensile tails, and as most opossums are arboreal and ex-
cellent climbers, they use these flexible tails to grab and pull at
branches as they climb through the trees. As marsupials most fe-
males – with the exception of the short and grey tailed in the genus
Monodelphis, who do not have pouches – have young rearing
pouches. Most opossum’s fur coats are in varying shades of grey,
from very light to very dark, with patches of white on their faces
and around their eyes. Some however, have light to dark tawny
coloured coats interspersed with white or off white patches. A few
have brown coloured coats.
Opossums are primarily arboreal, yet most feel at home on
the ground just as they do in the trees. Exceptions to this are the
subfamily Caluromyinae and Glironiinae who are totally arbore-
al, while those of the genus Metachirus and Monodelphis are
committed ground dwellers. Another unusual species is the water
opossum the sole member of the genus Chironectes. It’s the only
living semi-aquatic marsupial, has webbed feet, and spends most of
its time in the water hunting all types of aquatic life. All species are
found across the Americas in almost all areas populated by trees
including swamplands and bushlands. They live solitary, nocturnal
lives, and are most active in the twilight hours, though will venture
out during the day if food is scarce. For shelter they will occupy
tree hollows and holes, lining them with leaves and twigs and, alt-
hough they rarely dig burrows, will live in burrows abandoned by
other animals. Most opossums are omnivores living on vegetation
and small animals, while some, like the genus Caluromys are more
frugivorous and the genus Lestodelphys more carnivorous. How-
ever, the South American genus Metachirus some believe to be an
insectivore, living only on insects. Opossums are often mistaken
for rodents, possibly due to their habit of nesting in the founda-
tions of houses. However, they do not infest a house like the com-
mon mouse. Opossums are not rodents, they are marsupials. Ro-