The Zoochat Photographic Guide to Monotremes and Marsupials
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
For the bandicoot, the IUCN says that there are two reintroduced populations "(with a combined population of 350 ± 100 individuals) and a captive population of 15 breeding pairs (total 50 individuals)." That information is from 2012. I don't know the current population total, but there are still about 50 in zoos (mostly at Werribee).
I don't know what the Striped Possums in the USA are, but they are very unlikely to be Australian. I'd guess them to be a mix of different New Guinea subspecies.
I see the English version uses "Eastern Wallaroo" for both O. robustus as O. r. robustus (I use the German version). The ones I saw in Best (NL), Duisburg and Tierpark Berlin are considered to be the subspecies. I looked it up and there are some photos of the one in Best in the gallery (made by Maguiri in 2012).
Photographs of Toolache, Eastern Hare Wallaby, Crescent Nailtail Wallaby and Fawn Antechinus will be in the galleries soon. I also have a photo of a Lesser Bilby, but it's in a jar with formaldehyde/ethanol and by that not very representative. I made a overview photo of th extinct mammal display in the SA Museum, but it's difficult to point out which species is which (Desert Bandicoot and Desert Rat Kangaroo are on it, among others).
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NEW WORLD MARSUPIALS
Three Orders (Microbiotheria, Paucituberculata, Didelphimorphia), with about 140 species in three Families. There are only 22 species represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Microbiotheria (one species in one Family)
Microbiotheriidae: Monito del Monte (one species, depicted here)
Paucituberculata (seven species in one Family)
Caenolestidae: Shrew-Opossums (seven species in three genera, none of which are depicted here)
Didelphimorphia (about 130 species in one Family)
Didelphidae: New World Opossums (about 110 species in 18 genera, with 21 species in 9 genera depicted here)
Three Orders (Microbiotheria, Paucituberculata, Didelphimorphia), with about 140 species in three Families. There are only 22 species represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Microbiotheria (one species in one Family)
Microbiotheriidae: Monito del Monte (one species, depicted here)
Paucituberculata (seven species in one Family)
Caenolestidae: Shrew-Opossums (seven species in three genera, none of which are depicted here)
Didelphimorphia (about 130 species in one Family)
Didelphidae: New World Opossums (about 110 species in 18 genera, with 21 species in 9 genera depicted here)
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Order: MICROBIOTHERIA
One family, with one to three species recognised.
MICROBIOTHERIIDAE
Monito del Monte
One species.
Monito del Monte or Colocolo Opossum Dromiciops gliroides.
Two subspecies have been named (australis and gliroides) but otherwise the species has generally been considered monotypic.
Endemic to the temperate rainforests of the southern Andes, in the border area between southern Chile and southwest Argentina (australis), and on Chiloe Island (gliroides).
In 2016 the species was split in three, with the two new species being named Dromiciops bozinovici and Dromiciops mondaca, but this doesn't appear to have been widely followed. If split, bozinovici is in the north of the range, mondaca in the centre, and gliroides in the south (including Chiloe Island).
There are two photos of Monitos del Monte in the Zoochat galleries, both taken by @Giant Eland in the wild, in Chile (specifically, on Chiloe Island, hence even if the three-species split is followed then the pictured animal is still of the species Dromiciops gliroides).
Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides)!!! - ZooChat
Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides)!!! - ZooChat
One family, with one to three species recognised.
MICROBIOTHERIIDAE
Monito del Monte
One species.
Monito del Monte or Colocolo Opossum Dromiciops gliroides.
Two subspecies have been named (australis and gliroides) but otherwise the species has generally been considered monotypic.
Endemic to the temperate rainforests of the southern Andes, in the border area between southern Chile and southwest Argentina (australis), and on Chiloe Island (gliroides).
In 2016 the species was split in three, with the two new species being named Dromiciops bozinovici and Dromiciops mondaca, but this doesn't appear to have been widely followed. If split, bozinovici is in the north of the range, mondaca in the centre, and gliroides in the south (including Chiloe Island).
There are two photos of Monitos del Monte in the Zoochat galleries, both taken by @Giant Eland in the wild, in Chile (specifically, on Chiloe Island, hence even if the three-species split is followed then the pictured animal is still of the species Dromiciops gliroides).
Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides)!!! - ZooChat
Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides)!!! - ZooChat
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Order: PAUCITUBERCULATA
Seven species in one Family.
CAENOLESTIDAE
Seven species in three genera. None of these species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Apart for the Long-nosed Shrew-Opossum Rhyncholestes raphanurus, which is from the forests of the southern Andes in Chile and Argentina, all species are known only from the mountain forests of northwestern South America in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Caenolestes
Five species
Grey-bellied Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes caniventer
Monotypic.
Found in the mountain forests on the western slopes of the Andes in southern Ecuador, and both slopes in northern Peru.
Andean Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes condorensis
Monotypic.
Described in 1996 and known only in the montane forests of the isolated Cordillera del Condor in Ecuador.
Northern Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes convelatus
Two subspecies: barbarensis and convelatus.
Found in the mountain forests on the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador (barbarensis) and Colombia (convelatus).
Dusky Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes fuliginosus
Three subspecies: centralis, fuliginosus, obscuras.
Found in the mountain forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia (centralis), and the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador (fuliginosus) and Colombia (obscuras).
Eastern Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes sangay
Monotypic.
Described in 2013 from the montane forests of Sangay National Park in eastern Ecuador.
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Lestoros
One species
Peruvian or Incan Shrew-Opossum Lestoros inca
Monotypic.
Found in the montane forests of the Andes of southern Peru, extending slightly into northwestern Bolivia.
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Rhyncholestes
One species
Long-nosed Shrew-Opossum Rhyncholestes raphanurus
Two subspecies: continentalis and raphanurus.
Endemic to the temperate rainforests of the southern Andes, in the border area between southern Chile and southwest Argentina (continentalis), and on Chiloe Island (raphanurus).
Seven species in one Family.
CAENOLESTIDAE
Seven species in three genera. None of these species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Apart for the Long-nosed Shrew-Opossum Rhyncholestes raphanurus, which is from the forests of the southern Andes in Chile and Argentina, all species are known only from the mountain forests of northwestern South America in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Caenolestes
Five species
Grey-bellied Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes caniventer
Monotypic.
Found in the mountain forests on the western slopes of the Andes in southern Ecuador, and both slopes in northern Peru.
Andean Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes condorensis
Monotypic.
Described in 1996 and known only in the montane forests of the isolated Cordillera del Condor in Ecuador.
Northern Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes convelatus
Two subspecies: barbarensis and convelatus.
Found in the mountain forests on the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador (barbarensis) and Colombia (convelatus).
Dusky Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes fuliginosus
Three subspecies: centralis, fuliginosus, obscuras.
Found in the mountain forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia (centralis), and the western slopes of the Andes in northern Ecuador (fuliginosus) and Colombia (obscuras).
Eastern Shrew-Opossum Caenolestes sangay
Monotypic.
Described in 2013 from the montane forests of Sangay National Park in eastern Ecuador.
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Lestoros
One species
Peruvian or Incan Shrew-Opossum Lestoros inca
Monotypic.
Found in the montane forests of the Andes of southern Peru, extending slightly into northwestern Bolivia.
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Rhyncholestes
One species
Long-nosed Shrew-Opossum Rhyncholestes raphanurus
Two subspecies: continentalis and raphanurus.
Endemic to the temperate rainforests of the southern Andes, in the border area between southern Chile and southwest Argentina (continentalis), and on Chiloe Island (raphanurus).
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Order: DIDELPHIMORPHIA
About 130 species in one Family.
DIDELPHIDAE
There are about 130 species in 18 genera: Glironia; Hyladelphys; Caluromysiops, Caluromys; Metachirus, Chironectes, Lutreolina, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Tlacuatzin, Chacodelphys, Cryptonanus, Gracilinanus, Lestodelphys, Marmosops, Thylamys.
A paper by Robert Voss titled "An annotated checklist of recent opossums (Mammalia: Didelphidae)" was published in 2022, which I have used heavily for the following accounts of genera and species.
https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/7295/455.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Only 21 species from nine genera are represented in the Zoochat galleries: Caluromys, Chironectes, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Gracilinanus, Marmosops, and Thylamys.
This Family is broken into four subfamilies:
Glironiinae (one species, not depicted here)
Hyladelphinae (one species, not depicted here)
Caluromyinae (four species in two genera, of which three species from a single genus are depicted here)
Didelphinae (about 125 species in fourteen genera, of which eighteen species from eightt genera are depicted here)
About 130 species in one Family.
DIDELPHIDAE
There are about 130 species in 18 genera: Glironia; Hyladelphys; Caluromysiops, Caluromys; Metachirus, Chironectes, Lutreolina, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Tlacuatzin, Chacodelphys, Cryptonanus, Gracilinanus, Lestodelphys, Marmosops, Thylamys.
A paper by Robert Voss titled "An annotated checklist of recent opossums (Mammalia: Didelphidae)" was published in 2022, which I have used heavily for the following accounts of genera and species.
https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/7295/455.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Only 21 species from nine genera are represented in the Zoochat galleries: Caluromys, Chironectes, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Gracilinanus, Marmosops, and Thylamys.
This Family is broken into four subfamilies:
Glironiinae (one species, not depicted here)
Hyladelphinae (one species, not depicted here)
Caluromyinae (four species in two genera, of which three species from a single genus are depicted here)
Didelphinae (about 125 species in fourteen genera, of which eighteen species from eightt genera are depicted here)
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Subfamily Glironiinae
Glironia
One species.
Bushy-tailed Opossum Glironia venusta
Monotypic.
Recorded mainly in the upper Amazonian rainforests from eastern Ecuador through Peru to Bolivia, with isolated records from across northern Brazil. The species is known from less than 30 specimens, from about 20 capture locations.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Glironia
One species.
Bushy-tailed Opossum Glironia venusta
Monotypic.
Recorded mainly in the upper Amazonian rainforests from eastern Ecuador through Peru to Bolivia, with isolated records from across northern Brazil. The species is known from less than 30 specimens, from about 20 capture locations.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
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Subfamily Hyladelphinae
The single species in this subfamily was only described in 1992. It was originally placed in the genus Gracilinanus (Gracile Opossums).
Hyladelphys
One species.
Kalinowski's Mouse Opossum Hyladelphys kalinowskii
Monotypic.
Known from only about a dozen specimens, but collected over a wide area of north-central South America, from eastern Peru, northern Brazil, and French Guiana in the east. Genetic studies from the few known specimens suggest that it may be a species-complex.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
The single species in this subfamily was only described in 1992. It was originally placed in the genus Gracilinanus (Gracile Opossums).
Hyladelphys
One species.
Kalinowski's Mouse Opossum Hyladelphys kalinowskii
Monotypic.
Known from only about a dozen specimens, but collected over a wide area of north-central South America, from eastern Peru, northern Brazil, and French Guiana in the east. Genetic studies from the few known specimens suggest that it may be a species-complex.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
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Subfamily Caluromyinae
Four species in two genera (Caluromysiops and Caluromys), of which only the latter genus is represented in the Zoochat galleries.
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Caluromysiops
One species.
Black-shouldered Opossum Caluromysiops irrupta
Monotypic.
Described in 1951 and known from only a few specimens from western Brazil, Colombia, and eastern Peru.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
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Caluromys
Three species, all of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Derby's Woolly Opossum Caluromys derbianus
Six or seven subspecies usually recognised (aztecus, canutus, centralis, derbianus, fervidus, nauticus, pallidus) although a 2015 study on skull structure suggests the species may be monotypic: Geographic variation in Caluromys derbianus and Caluromys lanatus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)
Found mostly in Central America, with aztecus in southern Mexico; canus in Nicaragua, but otherwise synonymised with centralis of Costa Rica; derbianus from eastern Panama down the western coast of Colombia and Ecuador; fervidus in Guatemala and Honduras; nauticus on Panama's Gobernadora Island; and pallidus in Panama (between the ranges of centralis and derbianus).
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Costa Rica (subspecies centralis).
(Caluromys derbianus) Derby’s woolly opossum 2014 | ZooChat
Photo by @toto98 in the wild, Colombia (subspecies derbianus).
Central American Woolly oppossum (Caluromys derbyanus) | ZooChat
Photo by @Jo Kuyken at BestZoo, Netherlands (unknown subspecies, to show better the appearance of the species).
Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus) - ZooChat
Brown-eared Woolly Opossum Caluromys lanatus
Four subspecies usually recognised (cicur, lanatus, ochropus, ornatus) although there are many other synonyms. A 2015 study on skull structure suggests that only two subspecies may be valid (lanatus from the Atlantic Forest, and ochropus in the rest of the range): Geographic variation in Caluromys derbianus and Caluromys lanatus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)
Found throughout north-central South America, from northern Colombia and Venezuela down to Paraguay and southern Brazil, although the distributional limits of the various subspecies are messy given the variety of opinions on how many are valid. The subspecies cicur is the northernmost one, from northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela; lanatus is the most southerly, being from eastern Paraguay and southwestern Brazil; ochropus covers most of the range across northwest South America (western Brazil, southern Venezuela and Colombia, and eastern Peru and Bolivia); and ornatus is found down western South America from southern Colombia to northwest Bolivia.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Parque de Las Leyendas, Peru (presumably the Peruvian subspecies ornatus).
brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus) - ZooChat
Bare-tailed Woolly Opossum Caluromys philander
Four subspecies: affinis, dichurus, philander, trinitatis.
Found throughout most of eastern South America: affinis is from southern Brazil; dichurus from eastern and southeast Brazil; philander from northeastern Brazil, the Guianas, and southern Venezuela; and trinitatis is from Venezuela north of the Orinoco, and on the island of Trinidad.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Shell Factory and Nature Park, USA (unknown subspecies).
2014 Shell Factory and Nature Park | ZooChat
Four species in two genera (Caluromysiops and Caluromys), of which only the latter genus is represented in the Zoochat galleries.
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Caluromysiops
One species.
Black-shouldered Opossum Caluromysiops irrupta
Monotypic.
Described in 1951 and known from only a few specimens from western Brazil, Colombia, and eastern Peru.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
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Caluromys
Three species, all of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Derby's Woolly Opossum Caluromys derbianus
Six or seven subspecies usually recognised (aztecus, canutus, centralis, derbianus, fervidus, nauticus, pallidus) although a 2015 study on skull structure suggests the species may be monotypic: Geographic variation in Caluromys derbianus and Caluromys lanatus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)
Found mostly in Central America, with aztecus in southern Mexico; canus in Nicaragua, but otherwise synonymised with centralis of Costa Rica; derbianus from eastern Panama down the western coast of Colombia and Ecuador; fervidus in Guatemala and Honduras; nauticus on Panama's Gobernadora Island; and pallidus in Panama (between the ranges of centralis and derbianus).
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Costa Rica (subspecies centralis).
(Caluromys derbianus) Derby’s woolly opossum 2014 | ZooChat
Photo by @toto98 in the wild, Colombia (subspecies derbianus).
Central American Woolly oppossum (Caluromys derbyanus) | ZooChat
Photo by @Jo Kuyken at BestZoo, Netherlands (unknown subspecies, to show better the appearance of the species).
Derby's woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus) - ZooChat
Brown-eared Woolly Opossum Caluromys lanatus
Four subspecies usually recognised (cicur, lanatus, ochropus, ornatus) although there are many other synonyms. A 2015 study on skull structure suggests that only two subspecies may be valid (lanatus from the Atlantic Forest, and ochropus in the rest of the range): Geographic variation in Caluromys derbianus and Caluromys lanatus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)
Found throughout north-central South America, from northern Colombia and Venezuela down to Paraguay and southern Brazil, although the distributional limits of the various subspecies are messy given the variety of opinions on how many are valid. The subspecies cicur is the northernmost one, from northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela; lanatus is the most southerly, being from eastern Paraguay and southwestern Brazil; ochropus covers most of the range across northwest South America (western Brazil, southern Venezuela and Colombia, and eastern Peru and Bolivia); and ornatus is found down western South America from southern Colombia to northwest Bolivia.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Parque de Las Leyendas, Peru (presumably the Peruvian subspecies ornatus).
brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus) - ZooChat
Bare-tailed Woolly Opossum Caluromys philander
Four subspecies: affinis, dichurus, philander, trinitatis.
Found throughout most of eastern South America: affinis is from southern Brazil; dichurus from eastern and southeast Brazil; philander from northeastern Brazil, the Guianas, and southern Venezuela; and trinitatis is from Venezuela north of the Orinoco, and on the island of Trinidad.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Shell Factory and Nature Park, USA (unknown subspecies).
2014 Shell Factory and Nature Park | ZooChat
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Subfamily Didelphinae
This subfamily contains about 125 species in 14 genera: Metachirus, Chironectes, Lutreolina, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Tlacuatzin, Chacodelphys, Cryptonanus, Gracilinanus, Lestodelphys, Marmosops, Thylamys.
Only eighteen species from eight genera are represented in the Zoochat galleries: Chironectes, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Gracilinanus, Marmosops, and Thylamys.
This subfamily contains about 125 species in 14 genera: Metachirus, Chironectes, Lutreolina, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Tlacuatzin, Chacodelphys, Cryptonanus, Gracilinanus, Lestodelphys, Marmosops, Thylamys.
Only eighteen species from eight genera are represented in the Zoochat galleries: Chironectes, Didelphis, Philander, Monodelphis, Marmosa, Gracilinanus, Marmosops, and Thylamys.
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Chironectes
One species
Yapok or Water Opossum Chironectes minimus
Four subspecies are typically accepted: argyrodtes, bresslaui, minimus, panamensis.
Found throughout Central America and over large areas of northern and southeastern South America: argyrodytes is found from southern Mexico to central Honduras; bresslaui in southeastern South America (southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeast Argentina); minimus in northeastern South America (the Guianas and neighbouring parts of Brazil); and panamensis from Nicaragua southwards throughout northwestern South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru, and northwest Brazil).
Despite distribution maps for Yapok always showing an empty space across the north-central part of South America, there are a number of vouchered specimens from central Amazonia so the species probably occurs throughout the continent, joining the three South American subspecies into a continuous distribution. There also seems to be little genetic difference between subspecies, hence the 2022 checklist of American opossums by Voss treated Yapok as monotypic.
Both photos below by @Giant Eland at Dallas World Aquarium, USA (subspecies minimus from Guyana).
Dallas World Aquarium 2010 | ZooChat
Dallas World Aquarium 2010 | ZooChat
One species
Yapok or Water Opossum Chironectes minimus
Four subspecies are typically accepted: argyrodtes, bresslaui, minimus, panamensis.
Found throughout Central America and over large areas of northern and southeastern South America: argyrodytes is found from southern Mexico to central Honduras; bresslaui in southeastern South America (southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeast Argentina); minimus in northeastern South America (the Guianas and neighbouring parts of Brazil); and panamensis from Nicaragua southwards throughout northwestern South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru, and northwest Brazil).
Despite distribution maps for Yapok always showing an empty space across the north-central part of South America, there are a number of vouchered specimens from central Amazonia so the species probably occurs throughout the continent, joining the three South American subspecies into a continuous distribution. There also seems to be little genetic difference between subspecies, hence the 2022 checklist of American opossums by Voss treated Yapok as monotypic.
Both photos below by @Giant Eland at Dallas World Aquarium, USA (subspecies minimus from Guyana).
Dallas World Aquarium 2010 | ZooChat
Dallas World Aquarium 2010 | ZooChat
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Didelphis
Six species, of which there are five species represented in the Zoochat galleries. The remaining undepicted species is the Guianan White-eared Opossum Didelphis imperfecta, which was formerly treated as a subspecies of the White-eared Opossum Didelphis albiventris.
There has been little work done on the relationships within this genus, with most splits being made largely or entirely on geographical grounds. Morphology within and between species is inconsistent. In his 2022 didelphid checklist, Voss retains the current six species of Didelphis but suggests that the three white-eared opossums are likely not separable, and that the Big-eared Opossum D. aurita is probably the same as D. marsupialis.
White-eared Opossum Didelphis albiventris
Monotypic. The former subspecies imperfecta and pernigra have been split as full species.
Found over a large area of southern South America, including most of eastern and southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Buenos Aires Zoo, Argentina.
2013 Zoo de Buenos Aires | ZooChat
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Argentina.
white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) - ZooChat
Big-eared Opossum Didelphis aurita
Monotypic. In the 2022 checklist of American opossums by Voss it is suggested that this species is conspecific with D. marsupialis.
Found in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and the northern tip of Argentina.
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Brazil.
Big-eared Opossum (Didelphis aurita) - ZooChat
Guianan White-eared Opossum Didelphis imperfecta
Monotypic
Found in northeastern South America, from the Guianas across northern Brazil and southern Venezuela to the eastern edge of Colombia.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Common or Black-eared Opossum Didelphis marsupialis
Variable opinions on subspecies, from being monotypic to having up to seven subspecies: battyi, caucae, colombica, etensis, insularis, marsupialis, tabascensis.
Found from southeast Mexico throughout Central America and northern South America as far south as Bolivia, as well as on several of the Caribbean islands (some native and some introduced). Variations in appearance appear to be clinal rather than distinct, and hence the species is generally treated nowadays as being either monotypic or having just two subspecies (caucae in Central America to Colombia, and marsupialis in South America). The West Indian populations are also still often treated as distinct, as D. m. insularis.
Photo by @Newzooboy in the wild, Costa Rica (Central American subspecies caucae).
Common Opossum - ZooChat
Andean White-eared Opossum Didelphis pernigra
Monotypic. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Didelphis albiventris.
Found down the Andean mountain chain from western Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to western Bolivia.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Parque de Las Leyendas, Peru.
common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) - ZooChat
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Four subspecies: californica, pigra, virginiana, yucatanensis.
Found over much of North America south into Central America: californica is found throughout most of Mexico and south to Nicaragua; pigra is from the southeastern USA along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico into Florida; virginiana is from most of the eastern USA into southern Canada, and has been introduced into the western USA where it is now common; and yucatanensis is restricted to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
Photo by @robreintjes in the wild, USA (subspecies pigra).
Wild opossum - ZooChat
Photo by @Giant Eland at Oklahoma City Zoo, USA (probably the subspecies virginiana).
2013: Oklahoma Zoo | ZooChat
Photo by @Giant Eland at the Smithsonian National Zoo, USA (one of the two Mexican subspecies, californica or yucatanensis. This particular individual was a smuggled animal from Mexico but I don't know the capture location - the Yucatan Peninsula seems most likely as that is a frequent tourist destination (and hence it would be D. v. yucatanensis) but D. v. caifornica is found throughout the rest of Mexico. This animal was originally identified as a Common Opossum D. marsupialis by the zoo but was re-identified via DNA tests in early 2020; the southern subspecies of Virginia Opossums are dissimilar to the northern subspecies, but are very similar in appearance to Common Opossums with which they overlap considerably in distribution).
common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) | ZooChat
Six species, of which there are five species represented in the Zoochat galleries. The remaining undepicted species is the Guianan White-eared Opossum Didelphis imperfecta, which was formerly treated as a subspecies of the White-eared Opossum Didelphis albiventris.
There has been little work done on the relationships within this genus, with most splits being made largely or entirely on geographical grounds. Morphology within and between species is inconsistent. In his 2022 didelphid checklist, Voss retains the current six species of Didelphis but suggests that the three white-eared opossums are likely not separable, and that the Big-eared Opossum D. aurita is probably the same as D. marsupialis.
White-eared Opossum Didelphis albiventris
Monotypic. The former subspecies imperfecta and pernigra have been split as full species.
Found over a large area of southern South America, including most of eastern and southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Buenos Aires Zoo, Argentina.
2013 Zoo de Buenos Aires | ZooChat
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Argentina.
white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) - ZooChat
Big-eared Opossum Didelphis aurita
Monotypic. In the 2022 checklist of American opossums by Voss it is suggested that this species is conspecific with D. marsupialis.
Found in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and the northern tip of Argentina.
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Brazil.
Big-eared Opossum (Didelphis aurita) - ZooChat
Guianan White-eared Opossum Didelphis imperfecta
Monotypic
Found in northeastern South America, from the Guianas across northern Brazil and southern Venezuela to the eastern edge of Colombia.
This species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.
Common or Black-eared Opossum Didelphis marsupialis
Variable opinions on subspecies, from being monotypic to having up to seven subspecies: battyi, caucae, colombica, etensis, insularis, marsupialis, tabascensis.
Found from southeast Mexico throughout Central America and northern South America as far south as Bolivia, as well as on several of the Caribbean islands (some native and some introduced). Variations in appearance appear to be clinal rather than distinct, and hence the species is generally treated nowadays as being either monotypic or having just two subspecies (caucae in Central America to Colombia, and marsupialis in South America). The West Indian populations are also still often treated as distinct, as D. m. insularis.
Photo by @Newzooboy in the wild, Costa Rica (Central American subspecies caucae).
Common Opossum - ZooChat
Andean White-eared Opossum Didelphis pernigra
Monotypic. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Didelphis albiventris.
Found down the Andean mountain chain from western Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to western Bolivia.
Photo by @Giant Eland at Parque de Las Leyendas, Peru.
common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) - ZooChat
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Four subspecies: californica, pigra, virginiana, yucatanensis.
Found over much of North America south into Central America: californica is found throughout most of Mexico and south to Nicaragua; pigra is from the southeastern USA along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico into Florida; virginiana is from most of the eastern USA into southern Canada, and has been introduced into the western USA where it is now common; and yucatanensis is restricted to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
Photo by @robreintjes in the wild, USA (subspecies pigra).
Wild opossum - ZooChat
Photo by @Giant Eland at Oklahoma City Zoo, USA (probably the subspecies virginiana).
2013: Oklahoma Zoo | ZooChat
Photo by @Giant Eland at the Smithsonian National Zoo, USA (one of the two Mexican subspecies, californica or yucatanensis. This particular individual was a smuggled animal from Mexico but I don't know the capture location - the Yucatan Peninsula seems most likely as that is a frequent tourist destination (and hence it would be D. v. yucatanensis) but D. v. caifornica is found throughout the rest of Mexico. This animal was originally identified as a Common Opossum D. marsupialis by the zoo but was re-identified via DNA tests in early 2020; the southern subspecies of Virginia Opossums are dissimilar to the northern subspecies, but are very similar in appearance to Common Opossums with which they overlap considerably in distribution).
common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) | ZooChat
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Philander
About ten or eleven species, three of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
The following photo, by @Sun Wukong at Plzen Zoo, Czech Republic, depicts a Philander of the species formerly known as the Grey Four-eyed Opossum P. opossum. At the time these were kept in European zoos, this species contained four or five subspecies, found throughout most of Central and South America. This complex has since been split into four separate species (P. canus, P. melanurus, P. opossum, P. vossi) and, as I don't know from where the original animals were imported, I'm not sure which species this photo now depicts. The species which retains the name Philander opossum is now restricted to the Guianan region of northeastern South America, and is depicted in the second photo used below.
Pilsen Zoo 2011 | ZooChat
Guianan Four-eyed Opossum Philander opossum
Monotypic. The former subspecies canus, fuscogriseus, melanurus, and pallidus have been split as the genetics show they are not closely related.
Found only in eastern Amazonia, in northern Brazil and the Guianas.
The distribution was formerly much larger before the other taxa were split, being found from Mexico and northern Central America (pallidus; renamed P. vossi); through eastern Central America to Colombia and Ecuador (fuscogriseus / melanurus), and throughout most of the rest of South America as far south as Argentina (canus).
Photo by @RatioTile in a pet store in the USA (imported from Guyana).
Gray Four-Eyed Opossum (Philander opossum opossum) - ZooChat
Grey Four-eyed Opossum Philander canus
Monotypic. Formerly a subspecies of P. opossum.
Found from Venezuela and Colombia to northern Argentina. Despite the wide range there is little genetic variation. The disjunct population in Venezuela and Colombia has been described (in 2006) as a separate species, the Mondolfi's Four-eyed Opossum P. mondolfii but this is treated as a synonym of P. canus by Voss in his 2022 checklist.
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Bolivia.
Common Four-eyed Opossum (Philander canus) - ZooChat
Black-tailed Four-eyed Opossum Philander melanurus
Monotypic. Formerly a subspecies of P. opossum (including also P. o. fuscogriseus, now treated as a synonym of P. melanurus).
Found from northwestern South America (Colombia and western Ecuador) north into Panama and Costa Rica, and probably up to Nicaragua.
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Costa Rica.
Dark Four-eyed Opossum (Philander melanurus) - ZooChat
The other species contained within this genus are as follows:
Anderson's Four-eyed Opossum Philander andersoni
Monotypic.
Found in northwestern South America, in northeastern Peru, eastern Ecuador, southern Venezuela and Colombia, and northwestern Brazil.
Deltaic Four-eyed Opossum Philander deltae
Monotypic.
Known only from the seasonally-flooded delta area of the Orinoco River in northeastern Venezuela. Only described as a new species in 2006.
McIlhenny's Four-eyed Opossum Philander mcilhennyi
Monotypic. Has also been treated as a subspecies of P. andersoni.
Found in eastern Peru and western Brazil.
Peruvian Four-eyed Opossum Philander nigratus
Monotypic. Has been combined with various other Philander species, but is genetically distinct.
Known only from a few locations in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes.
Olrog's Four-eyed Opossum P. olrogi
Monotypic.
Known from only a few localities in eastern Bolivia and Peru. Described in 2008. Treated as a synonym of P. canus by Voss in his 2022 checklist.
Varzea Four-eyed Opossum Philander pebas
Monotypic.
Found in the seasonally-flooded varzea of eastern Ecuador and Peru, and western Brazil, probably also Colombia. Only described as a new species in 2018.
Southeastern Four-eyed Opossum Philander quica
Monotypic.
This species was formerly known as Philander frenatus due to confusion over the type locality. The type specimen of frenatus is now known to have been collected in northeastern South America and has thus been synonymised with P. opossum, meaning the southeastern species had to be renamed (as P. quica).
Found in southeastern South America, in southeast Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeast Argentina.
Mexican Four-eyed Opossum Philander vossi
Monotypic.
This species was formerly treated as a subspecies of P. opossum (as P. o. pallidus), sometimes split as P. pallidus, but that name was preoccupied and hence the new name (P. vossi) was given in 2020.
Found from northeastern Mexico to at least El Salvador, and possibly further south.
About ten or eleven species, three of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
The following photo, by @Sun Wukong at Plzen Zoo, Czech Republic, depicts a Philander of the species formerly known as the Grey Four-eyed Opossum P. opossum. At the time these were kept in European zoos, this species contained four or five subspecies, found throughout most of Central and South America. This complex has since been split into four separate species (P. canus, P. melanurus, P. opossum, P. vossi) and, as I don't know from where the original animals were imported, I'm not sure which species this photo now depicts. The species which retains the name Philander opossum is now restricted to the Guianan region of northeastern South America, and is depicted in the second photo used below.
Pilsen Zoo 2011 | ZooChat
Guianan Four-eyed Opossum Philander opossum
Monotypic. The former subspecies canus, fuscogriseus, melanurus, and pallidus have been split as the genetics show they are not closely related.
Found only in eastern Amazonia, in northern Brazil and the Guianas.
The distribution was formerly much larger before the other taxa were split, being found from Mexico and northern Central America (pallidus; renamed P. vossi); through eastern Central America to Colombia and Ecuador (fuscogriseus / melanurus), and throughout most of the rest of South America as far south as Argentina (canus).
Photo by @RatioTile in a pet store in the USA (imported from Guyana).
Gray Four-Eyed Opossum (Philander opossum opossum) - ZooChat
Grey Four-eyed Opossum Philander canus
Monotypic. Formerly a subspecies of P. opossum.
Found from Venezuela and Colombia to northern Argentina. Despite the wide range there is little genetic variation. The disjunct population in Venezuela and Colombia has been described (in 2006) as a separate species, the Mondolfi's Four-eyed Opossum P. mondolfii but this is treated as a synonym of P. canus by Voss in his 2022 checklist.
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Bolivia.
Common Four-eyed Opossum (Philander canus) - ZooChat
Black-tailed Four-eyed Opossum Philander melanurus
Monotypic. Formerly a subspecies of P. opossum (including also P. o. fuscogriseus, now treated as a synonym of P. melanurus).
Found from northwestern South America (Colombia and western Ecuador) north into Panama and Costa Rica, and probably up to Nicaragua.
Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Costa Rica.
Dark Four-eyed Opossum (Philander melanurus) - ZooChat
The other species contained within this genus are as follows:
Anderson's Four-eyed Opossum Philander andersoni
Monotypic.
Found in northwestern South America, in northeastern Peru, eastern Ecuador, southern Venezuela and Colombia, and northwestern Brazil.
Deltaic Four-eyed Opossum Philander deltae
Monotypic.
Known only from the seasonally-flooded delta area of the Orinoco River in northeastern Venezuela. Only described as a new species in 2006.
McIlhenny's Four-eyed Opossum Philander mcilhennyi
Monotypic. Has also been treated as a subspecies of P. andersoni.
Found in eastern Peru and western Brazil.
Peruvian Four-eyed Opossum Philander nigratus
Monotypic. Has been combined with various other Philander species, but is genetically distinct.
Known only from a few locations in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes.
Olrog's Four-eyed Opossum P. olrogi
Monotypic.
Known from only a few localities in eastern Bolivia and Peru. Described in 2008. Treated as a synonym of P. canus by Voss in his 2022 checklist.
Varzea Four-eyed Opossum Philander pebas
Monotypic.
Found in the seasonally-flooded varzea of eastern Ecuador and Peru, and western Brazil, probably also Colombia. Only described as a new species in 2018.
Southeastern Four-eyed Opossum Philander quica
Monotypic.
This species was formerly known as Philander frenatus due to confusion over the type locality. The type specimen of frenatus is now known to have been collected in northeastern South America and has thus been synonymised with P. opossum, meaning the southeastern species had to be renamed (as P. quica).
Found in southeastern South America, in southeast Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeast Argentina.
Mexican Four-eyed Opossum Philander vossi
Monotypic.
This species was formerly treated as a subspecies of P. opossum (as P. o. pallidus), sometimes split as P. pallidus, but that name was preoccupied and hence the new name (P. vossi) was given in 2020.
Found from northeastern Mexico to at least El Salvador, and possibly further south.
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Monodelphis
About 25 species, only two of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
I have listed them all as being monotypic, but some of them are probably species-complexes.
Brazilian Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis americana
Monotypic.
The Chestnut-striped Opossum M. rubida and Red Three-striped Opossum M. umbristriata are synonyms of M. americana, based on colour variations.
Found only in Brazil, mainly in the east of the country.
Photo uploaded by @Giant Eland of a wild-caught animal in Brazil.
northern three-striped opossum (Monodelphis americana) - ZooChat
Grey Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis domestica
Monotypic.
Found throughout the chaco and dry forests of eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Brazil.
Photo by @vogelcommando of captive animals in the Netherlands.
Gray short-tailed opossums - ZooChat
The remaining species are as follows (and do not take this list as definite, because taxonomy of Monodelphis is complex and new species are described quite frequently):
Sepia Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis adusta
Monotypic, but likely to be a species-complex.
Found from Panama to northwest Amazonia.
Arlindo's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis arlindoi
Monotypic. Formerly included within M. brevicaudata.
Found in northeastern South America, in Guyana and Brazil.
Northern Red-sided Opossum Monodelphis brevicaudata
Monotypic.
Found in northeastern South America, in Venezuela, Guyana and northern Brazil. Possibly sympatric in some areas with the split M. arlindoi.
Yellow-sided Opossum Monodelphis dimidiata
Monotypic. M. sorex is genetically the same and now treated as a synonym.
Found in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay.
Emilia's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis emiliae
Monotypic.
Found from northern Bolivia and eastern Peru to western Brazil.
Gardner's Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis gardneri
Monotypic.
Known only from the eastern Andes of central Peru. Only described in 2012.
Amazonian Red-sided Opossum Monodelphis glirina
Monotypic.
Found from Bolivia and Peru across Amazonian Brazil.
Handley's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis handleyi
Monotypic.
Known from only two localities in Peru. Only described in 2007.
Ihering's Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis iheringi
Monotypic.
Endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest.
Pigmy Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis kunsi
Monotypic.
Found in the chaco and dry forests of eastern Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Brazil.
Marajó Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis maraxina
Monotypic.
Found only on Marajó Island in Brazil, but synonymised with M. glirina by Voss in his 2022 checklist.
Osgood's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis osgoodi
Monotypic.
Known only from Bolivia and perhaps Peru.
Hooded Red-sided Opossum Monodelphis palliolata
Monotypic.
Known only from Venezuela, although it probably also occurs in neighbouring parts of Colombia.
Peruvian Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis peruviana
Monotypic. Formerly included within M. adusta to which it is morphologically indistinguishable but not closely related genetically.
Known only from Peru and Bolivia.
Pinnochio Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis pinocchio
Monotypic.
Endemic to montane forest in southeast Brazil.
Reig's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis reigi
Monotypic.
Known from only two localities, in eastern Venezuela and Guyana.
Ronald's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis ronaldi
Monotypic.
Known only from two localities in Peru and one in western Brazil.
Saci Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis saci
Monotypic.
Endemic to Brazil.
Santa Rosa de la Roca Opossum Monodelphis sanctaerosae
Monotypic.
Known only from the type locality which is in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Long-nosed Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis scalops
Monotypic. M. theresa is a synonym.
Found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and northeastern Argentina.
Touan Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis touan
Monotypic. Formerly included within M. brevicaudata.
Known only from French Guiana and some neighbouring parts of Brazil.
One-striped Opossum Monodelphis unistriata
Monotypic.
Known from only two locations, in southeast Brazil and northeast Argentina.
Roraima Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis vossi
Monotypic.
Known from only two locations in the Brazilian state of Roraima. Only described in 2019.
About 25 species, only two of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.
I have listed them all as being monotypic, but some of them are probably species-complexes.
Brazilian Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis americana
Monotypic.
The Chestnut-striped Opossum M. rubida and Red Three-striped Opossum M. umbristriata are synonyms of M. americana, based on colour variations.
Found only in Brazil, mainly in the east of the country.
Photo uploaded by @Giant Eland of a wild-caught animal in Brazil.
northern three-striped opossum (Monodelphis americana) - ZooChat
Grey Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis domestica
Monotypic.
Found throughout the chaco and dry forests of eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Brazil.
Photo by @vogelcommando of captive animals in the Netherlands.
Gray short-tailed opossums - ZooChat
The remaining species are as follows (and do not take this list as definite, because taxonomy of Monodelphis is complex and new species are described quite frequently):
Sepia Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis adusta
Monotypic, but likely to be a species-complex.
Found from Panama to northwest Amazonia.
Arlindo's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis arlindoi
Monotypic. Formerly included within M. brevicaudata.
Found in northeastern South America, in Guyana and Brazil.
Northern Red-sided Opossum Monodelphis brevicaudata
Monotypic.
Found in northeastern South America, in Venezuela, Guyana and northern Brazil. Possibly sympatric in some areas with the split M. arlindoi.
Yellow-sided Opossum Monodelphis dimidiata
Monotypic. M. sorex is genetically the same and now treated as a synonym.
Found in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay.
Emilia's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis emiliae
Monotypic.
Found from northern Bolivia and eastern Peru to western Brazil.
Gardner's Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis gardneri
Monotypic.
Known only from the eastern Andes of central Peru. Only described in 2012.
Amazonian Red-sided Opossum Monodelphis glirina
Monotypic.
Found from Bolivia and Peru across Amazonian Brazil.
Handley's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis handleyi
Monotypic.
Known from only two localities in Peru. Only described in 2007.
Ihering's Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis iheringi
Monotypic.
Endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest.
Pigmy Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis kunsi
Monotypic.
Found in the chaco and dry forests of eastern Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Brazil.
Marajó Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis maraxina
Monotypic.
Found only on Marajó Island in Brazil, but synonymised with M. glirina by Voss in his 2022 checklist.
Osgood's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis osgoodi
Monotypic.
Known only from Bolivia and perhaps Peru.
Hooded Red-sided Opossum Monodelphis palliolata
Monotypic.
Known only from Venezuela, although it probably also occurs in neighbouring parts of Colombia.
Peruvian Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis peruviana
Monotypic. Formerly included within M. adusta to which it is morphologically indistinguishable but not closely related genetically.
Known only from Peru and Bolivia.
Pinnochio Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis pinocchio
Monotypic.
Endemic to montane forest in southeast Brazil.
Reig's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis reigi
Monotypic.
Known from only two localities, in eastern Venezuela and Guyana.
Ronald's Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis ronaldi
Monotypic.
Known only from two localities in Peru and one in western Brazil.
Saci Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis saci
Monotypic.
Endemic to Brazil.
Santa Rosa de la Roca Opossum Monodelphis sanctaerosae
Monotypic.
Known only from the type locality which is in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Long-nosed Three-striped Opossum Monodelphis scalops
Monotypic. M. theresa is a synonym.
Found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and northeastern Argentina.
Touan Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis touan
Monotypic. Formerly included within M. brevicaudata.
Known only from French Guiana and some neighbouring parts of Brazil.
One-striped Opossum Monodelphis unistriata
Monotypic.
Known from only two locations, in southeast Brazil and northeast Argentina.
Roraima Short-tailed Opossum Monodelphis vossi
Monotypic.
Known from only two locations in the Brazilian state of Roraima. Only described in 2019.
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