There are a considerable number and variety of species of marsupial in the Americas, besides the Virginia opossum which reaches as far north as Canada, but as far as I am aware there are none in the UK, or indeed other zoos worldwide. Does anyone know of any zoos which hold any of these? I would have thought that some of the stranger species like the lutrine or water opossums might make interesting exhibit animals.
South American Marsupials
- Thread starter Zoovolunteer
- Start date
There are no didelphid marsupials in public collections within the UK; however the Short-tailed Opossum and the White-eared Opossum are both held in private collections within the UK and Europe. These taxa are also held in low numbers in a few public collections on the continent.
The last Virginia Opossums in a European collection died a few years ago.
threeple61
Well-Known Member
There are virginia opossum in private hands as far as I know.
Unfortunately the vast majority of Virginia Opossum in private hands are actually white-eared being given a name with a higher pricetag
though I think one or two genuine ones are knocking about.
Gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica) are kept in North American zoos as educational animals. I don't know if there are any on-display.
I used to keep grey short tailed opposum and we also had a pair of true Virginia opposums at work, the problem being is that they have a short lifespans and for some reason in Europe at least seem very hard to breed. Whether this is due to a condition that can be met in America but not Europe I don't know ( perhaps changes in pressure?).
The initial import of Virgina opposums into the UK were true virginia opposums but then a few years later another import was labeled as Virginia opposums and yet they were white eared opposums.
The initial import of Virgina opposums into the UK were true virginia opposums but then a few years later another import was labeled as Virginia opposums and yet they were white eared opposums.
I've always suspected that the difficulty in breeding opossums in Europe is partially down to an overall lack of interest, which makes importing stock pricey for those who *are* interested, and means there is a lot less prior husbandry to work on. It is worth noting that Virginia Opossum in particular are not very popular in the private trade over in the USA to my knowledge - probably because they are seen as vermin over there! - and as a result there is not much prior husbandry to work on from over there, too.
That's very true dave! We tried everything with our pair, diet, temperature change, humidity yet we only had a few seasons to do so before they became to old to breed sadly.
I don't know why they aren't more popular in zoos, they are incredibly friendly and tame and would make perfect education and outreach animals!
I don't know why they aren't more popular in zoos, they are incredibly friendly and tame and would make perfect education and outreach animals!
Carlos, do any of the South American possum species occur in Mexico or is it too far north for them?
Mexican marsupials
Hello David
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammals_of_Mexico#Order:_Didelphimorphia_.28common_opossums.29 lists the following species of Mexican marsupials:
Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus)
Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus)
Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Mexican mouse opossum (Marmosa Mexicana)
Brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)
Grey four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum)
Tlacuatzin Greyish mouse opossum (Tlacuatzin canescens)
Hello David
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammals_of_Mexico#Order:_Didelphimorphia_.28common_opossums.29 lists the following species of Mexican marsupials:
Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus)
Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus)
Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Mexican mouse opossum (Marmosa Mexicana)
Brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)
Grey four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum)
Tlacuatzin Greyish mouse opossum (Tlacuatzin canescens)
bare-tailed woolly opossums (Caluromys philander) were at Shell Factory and Nature Park in Florida as recently as January, 2015.
Here's one of the pictures I took:
http://www.zoochat.com/1927/2014-shell-factory-nature-park-398980/
Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus) have been kept at Dallas World Aquarium off and on.
Unsurprisingly, South American marsupials can be found in some zoos in South America.
Here's one of the pictures I took:
http://www.zoochat.com/1927/2014-shell-factory-nature-park-398980/
Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus) have been kept at Dallas World Aquarium off and on.
Unsurprisingly, South American marsupials can be found in some zoos in South America.