Due to
@Aardwolf 's helpful post, Platypus will be changed to Barely Plausible.
I also saw that I made the mistake of marking the Huon Tree Kangaroo as terrestrial when it's mostly arboreal.
Order Didelphimorphia: Part 1
126 species across 1 families
6 species kept currently (4.76%)
Opossums - Family Didelphidae (126 species)
Virginia Opossum -
Didelphis virginiana
There are 3 subspecies of Virginia Opossum; Eastern Virginia Opossum (D. virginiana virgianana), North Mexican Virginia Opossum (D. v. California), and Yucatan Virginia Opossum (D. v. yucatenensis). This opossum is the only marsupial native to the United States and is also the northernmost found marsupial in the world.
Image Credit to
@RatioTile at Woodland Park Zoo
AZA Abundance: Abundant
Non-AZA Abundance: Abundant
Overall Abundance: Abundant
As a native species of the United States, most individuals in captivity are rescues with most of the zoos that having them in their native range. In zoos, this species is commonly used as an animal ambassador due to their docile and somewhat cute appearance.
The Virginia Opossum is found as South as northern Costa Rica to as north as southern Canada. This opossum is vary adaptable, being found in many different climates. For the nomination subspecies, it's found in mostly temperate climates though with the population in Florida, it could be also said to live in tropical climates. The North Mexican subspecies is found in mostly arid climates with some temperate climates and the Yucatan subspecies is found in tropical climates. In captivity, the housing can be both indoors and outdoors as the opossum is extremely adaptable.
Virginia Opossums are profilic breeders though they only live 2-4 years in captivity and likely lower due them being mostly rescues. They are solitary species, often only being housed alone or in family groups (a mother with pouch young) . During the breeding season, they are sometimes housed in pairs.
Some possible exhibits with this species could be a City life exhibit, native animal exhibit, North american exhibit, nocturnal house, forest exhibit, childen's zoo, etc.. In zoos, this species is sometimes held in mixed species enclosures with other native/rescue animals. They are arboreal so there is always some "tree-like or branch" object in the enclosure.
Terrestrial Vertebrates: Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Arboreal Vertebrates: Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
Both Terrestial and Arboreal Vertebrates: Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Skunks are the most common animal for mixed species with these opossums. If there are opossum joeys, there shouldn't be owls or raccoons. If it wasn't obvious, not all of these species are compatible together but individually as a species, each are compatible.
Overall Feasibility for Spec Zoo Usage: Extremely Plausible for zoos in it's native range as they are common to see as rescues but if the zoo is not in the native range, then it is Plausible as there are sometimes joeys in zoos, and they are still found in most of the United States.
Grey Short-Tailed Opossum -
Monodelphis domestica
This species is monotypic being one of the only marsupials without a pouch. Grey short-tailed opossums are commonly found in the exotic pet trade with them also being used as research models in science (hence their nickname as "the laboratory opossum")
Image Credit to
@Alwaysevergreen in the United Kingdom as there isn't any photos of it in the United States
AZA Abundance: Not Present
Non-AZA Abundance: Extremely Rare
Overall Abundance: Extremely Rare
As a species with no conservation value, this opossum isn't found in any AZA facilities with it only being found in around 5 non AZA-accredited facilities in the US, likely obtained via the exotic pet trade.
The Grey Short-Tailed Opossum is found South of the Amazon River in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. This opossum was the first marsupial to have it's genome sequenced. In captivity, it's housed indoors due to them being from tropical climates with their need for a high humidity
Grey Short-Tailed Opossums are also easy breeders with a similar lifespan in captivity of 3-5 years. They are solitary species, often only being housed alone due to them being aggressive even during breeding season
Some possible exhibits with this species could be a South American exhibit, tropical savanna exhibit, nocturnal house, animals in research exhibit, Children's Zoom etc. In zoos, this species isn't housed in mixed species exhibits due to them being semi-aggresive
Overall Feasibility for Spec Zoo Usage: Somewhat Plausible as they are present in the United States (non-accredited zoos, research facilities, and exotic pet trade) but they aren't present in AZA facilities. There isn't really a need for them to be exhibited due to their prevalence in the wild
Derby's Woolly Opossum -
Caluromys derbianus
This species has 7 recognized subspecies though there isn't really any common names for them yet and there hasn't been a taxonomic study for them in American captivity.
Image Credit to
@RatioTile at Stamford Museum & Nature Center
AZA Abundance: Not Present
Non-AZA Abundance: Extremely Rare
Overall Abundance: Extremely Rare
Despite being common in European collections, Derby's woolly opossums are absent in AZA captivity due to a lack of interest and conservation needs. This species is relatively common in the pet trade which is likely the source of the 5 holders in the US.
Derby's Woolly Opossum is found in Central America from western Ecuador and Colombia to southern Mexico. This opossum is the largest in it's genus though only weighs 200-400 grams. In captivity, it's housed indoors due to their sensitivity to temperature fluctuations
Unlike most opossums, Derby's woolly opossums are less commonly bred though there has been succesfull breeding. They also have a longer lifespan than most opossums, surviving 5-8 years there. They are solitary species, though during breeding season, they can be housed in pairs.
Some possible exhibits with this species could be a nocturnal house, Central American exhibit, rainforest house, small mammal house, etc. In zoos, this species isn't housed in mixed species exhibits due to them being semi-aggresive
Overall Feasibility for Spec Zoo Usage: Somewhat Plausible as they are present in non-accredited American zoos but they aren't present in AZA facilities because there is a lack of interest.
Grey Four-Eyed Opossum -
Philander opossum species complex
This species recently split up into P. canus, P. melanurus, P. opossum and P. vossi so I have no idea which species is in the United States.
Image Credit to
@RatioTile with a Guianan Four-Eyed Opossum in an American pet store.
AZA Abundance: Not Present
Non-AZA Abundance: Extremely Rare
Overall Abundance: Extremely Rare
As a species with no conservation value, this opossum isn't found in any AZA facilities with it only being found in 1 non AZA-accredited facilities in the US, Safari Tails Adventures which is in Mississippi. Despite being nearly absent in zoos, there is an established population in the pet trade via imports from mostly Guyana.
The Grey Four-Eyed Opossum species complex is found Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. In captivity, it's housed indoors due to them being from tropical climates due to them being sensitive to the cold.
Grey Four-Eyed Opossums are also not hard to breed in captivity but isn't exactly easy due to their sensitivity with the environment. Like a lot of opossums, they have a lifespan in captivity of 3-5 years. They are solitary species, though they can be housed in pairs during breeding season or as a mother with her pouch young.
Some possible exhibits with this species could be a nocturnal house, tropical rainforest house, small mammal house, South America exhibit, etc. In zoos, this species isn't housed in mixed species exhibits due to them being semi-aggresive
Overall Feasibility for Spec Zoo Usage: Barely Plausible as they are present in the United States (a non-accredited zoo, and exotic pet trade) but grey four-eyed opossums don't have a breeding population in the US with a reliance on wild obtained individuals. They are also on the Phase Out list for the AZA RCP Marsupial and Monotreme TAG as of 2012 so it's unlikely that an AZA zoo will obtain them.
I'll continue later this week with the last two opossum species found in American captivity and the remaining species of opossum.
