Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

The Virginia opossum is the only species of opossum found in North America with 125 other species of opossum native to South and Central America. The opossums are the largest members of the marsupials to be found in the Americas

Fun fact

Opossums and Possums are often mistakenly used interchangeably. However opossum is derived from the Powhatan language and first recorded by John Smith back in the early 1600’s. However possums are more closely related to kangaroos than to any American marsupials. The possums where given their name due to their resemblance to opossums.

Number of confirmed specimens : 1
Number of pictures : 4

References

Reis, Fiona A. A Field Guide to Mammals of North America North of Mexico. 4th ed., Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006, pp. 2-3, 148-149, 171-172

Virginia opossum, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 03 May, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_opossum. Accessed 04, May 2026