| Display parents | 2 |
|---|---|
| Taxon | Didelphis |
| Authority | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | Didelphis marsupialis |
| Type species authority | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Subdivision ranks | Species |
| Subdivision |
|
Didelphis is a genus of New World marsupials. The six species in the genus Didelphis, commonly known as Large American opossums, are members of the opossum order, Didelphimorphia.
The genus Didelphis is composed of cat-sized omnivorous species, which can be recognized by their prehensile tails and their tendency to feign death when cornered. The largest species, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), is the only marsupial to be found north of Mexico.
The Virginia opossum has opposable toes on their two back feet.
One of the synapomorphies of this genus is the hypertrophied spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae, which also interlock. As a result, this prevents any movement of the neck. The purpose of this is not yet fully understood.[2]
Human interaction
Due to frequent interaction between human populations, Didelphis have potential risks[3] and benefits. Disease is commonly carried amongst the species which poses threats to humans, pets, and livestock who come in contact with didelphis. A study argues otherwise however as in various regions of Brazil Didelphis marsupialis is commonly consumed for protein and it's medicinal benefits used to treat disease.[4]
Phylogeny
Cladogram of living large American opossums, the genus Didelphis:[5][6]
Species
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Didelphis albiventris | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay | |
| Didelphis aurita | Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. | |
| Didelphis imperfecta | Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana and Venezuela. | |
| Didelphis marsupialis | northeast of Mexico to Bolivia to the central coast of Peru, including Trinidad and Tobago | |
| Didelphis pernigra | Venezuela to Bolivia | |
| Didelphis virginiana | Central America and North America from Costa Rica to southern Ontario |
References
- ^
- ^ Giannini, Norberto P.; Gaudioso, Pablo; Flores, David A.; Gaudin, Timothy J. (2011-07-01). "A possible function for an enigmatic synapomorphy of Didelphis". Mammalian Biology. 76 (4): 512–514. Bibcode:2011MamBi..76..512G. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2010.06.001. ISSN 1616-5047
- ^ Bezerra-Santos, M. A.; Ramos, R. A. N.; Campos, A. K.; Dantas-Torres, F.; Otranto, D. (2021). "Didelphis spp. opossums and their parasites in the Americas: A One Health perspective". Parasitology Research. 120 (12): 4091–4111. doi:10.1007/s00436-021-07072-4. PMC 8599228. PMID 33788021
- ^ Barros, F. B. & de Aguiar Azevedo, P. (2014). "Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758): food and medicine for people in the Amazon". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 10. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-10-65. PMC 4167517. PMID 25209094
- ^ Upham, Nathan S.; Esselstyn, Jacob A.; Jetz, Walter (2019). "Inferring the mammal tree: Species-level sets of phylogenies for questions in ecology, evolution and conservation". PLOS Biol. 17 (12). doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000494. PMC 6892540. PMID 31800571
- ^ Amador, Lucila I. & Giannini, Norberto P. (2016). "Phylogeny and evolution of body mass in didelphid marsupials (Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 16 (3): 641–657. Bibcode:2016ODivE..16..641A. doi:10.1007/s13127-015-0259-x. hdl:11336/50679. S2CID 17393886