Didelphis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Large American opossums[1] | |
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| Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Subfamily: | Didelphinae |
| Genus: | Didelphis Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758 |
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| Species | |
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The six species in the genus Didelphis, commonly known as large American opossums, are members of the order Didelphimorphia. The genus is composed of cat-sized omnivorous species, and are recognized on their prehensile tails and the tendency to "play possum" (feign dead) when cornered. The largest species, the Virginia opossum, is the only marsupial to be found in North America north of Mexico.
References[edit]
- ^ Gardner, A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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