Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Virginia opossums are easily identified by their long, pointed snout, grayish fur, and long, scaly tail. They also have a distinctive white stripe on their forehead. Opos…
How to identify
Virginia opossums are easily identified by their long, pointed snout, grayish fur, and long, scaly tail. They also have a distinctive white stripe on their forehead. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other North American mammal.
Range
Virginia opossums are found throughout North America, from southern Canada to Costa Rica. They were introduced to California in 1910 have have since spread across the west coast.
Habitat
Virginia opossums are adaptable animals and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and urban areas. They are most common in areas with abundant food and water.
Similar species
There are no other marsupials native to North America, so the Virginia opossum is the only animal with which it could be confused. However, there are a few other animals that share some similarities with opossums. These include raccoons, skunks, and coatimundis. Raccoons are larger than opossums and have black fur with a distinctive mask around their eyes. Skunks are also larger than opossums and have a distinctive black-and-white coat. Coatimundis are found in Central and South America, and they have a long, ringed tail.
Name and etymology
Genus
Didelphis
Greek meaning two (di) wombs (delphus)
Origin
Sources
- Palmer, Index Generum Mammalium (1904) ↗
Palmer, T. S. 1904. Index Generum Mammalium: a list of the genera and families of mammals. North American Fauna 23. Government Printing Office, Washington. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.39809
Species epithet
virginiana
Of Virginia
Sources
- Wikipedia: Didelphis virginiana ↗
“Didelphis virginiana.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_opossum
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
Virginia opossums are found throughout North America, from southern Canada to Costa Rica. They were introduced to California…
Habitat
Virginia opossums are adaptable animals and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and urban areas. Th…
Guide
Mammals of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap