Didelphimorphia
|
|
| Didelphimorphia | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Genera | ||||||||||
|
Several; see text |
The order Didelphimorphia contains the common opossums of the western hemisphere. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American Ameridelphian stock in the latest Cretaceous or early Paleocene. A sister group is the Paucituberculata, or shrew opossums.
Didelphimorphs are small to medium-sized marsupials. They tend to be semi-arboreal omnivores, although there are many exceptions. Most members of this taxon have long snouts, a narrow braincase, and a prominent sagittal crest (a bone crest running longitudinally along the center of the skull). The dental formula (one side of one jaw) includes 5 incisors (4 on the lower jaw), 1 canine, 3 premolars and 4 molars. By mammal standards, this is a very full jaw. The incisors are very small, the canines large. The molars are tricuspid.
Didelphimorphs have a plantigrade stance (feet flat on the ground). Most unusually, the hind feet have an opposable digit with a nail—not a claw. Nails are otherwise rare in the animal world and are common only among primates. Also like primates, opossums may have prehensile tails. The stomach is simple, with a small cecum. Opossum reproductive systems are extremely basic, with a reduced marsupium. This means that the young are born at a very early stage. Females are usually somewhat larger than males.
Didelphimorphs are opportunistic omnivores with a very broad range of diet. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive strategy make them successful colonizers and survivors in unsettled times. Perhaps this is why their range has been expanding rapidly into North America.
Opossum.jpg
Opossum from Enc Britannica 1st edition
Classification
The members of the order are classified in one family and a genus classified as incertae sedis:
- Incertae Sedis:
- Genus Hyladelphys
- Kalinowski's Opossum (Hyladelphys kalinowskii)
- Genus Hyladelphys
- Family Didelphidae
- Subfamily Caluromyinae
- Genus Caluromys
- Derby's Woolly Opussum, Caluromys derbianus
- Equadorian Woolly Opussum, Caluromys lanatus
- Bare-tailed Woolly Opussum, Caluromys philander
- Genus Caluromysiops
- Black-shouldered Opossum, Caluromysiops irrupta
- Genus Caluromys
- Subfamily Glironiinae
- Genus Glironia
- Bushy-tailed Opussum, Glironia venusta
- Genus Glironia
- Subfamily Didelphinae
- agricolai-unduaviensis group (formerly referred to Gracilinanus, the group represents a distinct and undescribed genus and will be R.S. Voss et al. (submitted))
- Agricola's Gracile Opossum ("Gracilinanus" (agricolai-unduaviensis) agricolai)
- Chacoan Gracile Opossum ("Gracilinanus" (agricolai-unduaviensis) chacoensis)
- Guahyba Gracile Opossum ("Gracilinanus" (agricolai-unduaviensis) guahybae)
- Red-bellied Gracile Opossum ("Gracilinanus" (agricolai-unduaviensis) ignitus)
- Unduavi Gracile Opossum ("Gracilinanus" (agricolai-unduaviensis) unduaviensis)
- Genus Chacodelphys
- Chacoan Pygmy Opossum (Chacodelphys formosa)
- Genus Chironectes
- Yapok or Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus)
- Genus Didelphis
- White-eared Opossum (Didelphis albiventris)
- Big-eared Opossum (Didelphis aurita)
- Guianan White-eared Opossum (Didelphis imperfecta)
- Southern Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
- Andean White-eared Opossum (Didelphis pernigra)
- Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Genus Gracilinanus
- Aceramarca Gracile Mouse Opossum (Gracilinanus aceramarcae)
- Agile Gracile Mouse Opossum (Gracilinanus agilis)
- Wood Sprite Gracile Mouse Opossum (Gracilinanus dryas)
- Emilia's Gracile Mouse Opossum (Gracilinanus emilae)
- Northern Gracile Mouse Opossum (Gracilinanus marica)
- Brazilian Gracile Mouse Opossum (Gracilinanus microtarsus)
- Genus Lestodelphys
- Patagonian Opossum (Lestodelphys halli)
- Genus Lutreolina
- Lutrine Opossum or Thick-tailed Opossum (Lutreolina crassicaudata)
- Genus Marmosa
- Anderson's Mouse Opossum (Marmosa andersoni)
- Grayish Mouse Opossum (Marmosa canescens)
- Trinidad Mouse Opossum (Marmosa chapmani)
- Little Rufous Mouse Opossum (Marmosa lepida)
- Mexican Mouse Opossum (Marmosa mexicana)
- Common Mouse Opossum (Marmosa murina)
- Quichuan Mouse Opossum (Marmosa quichua)
- Pale-bellied Mouse Opossum (Marmosa robinsoni)
- Colombian Mouse Opossum (Marmosa ruatanica)
- Red Mouse Opossum (Marmosa rubra)
- Simons' Mouse Opossum (Marmosa simonsi)
- Tyler's Mouse Opossum (Marmosa tyleriana)
- Dryland Mouse Opossum (Marmosa xerophila)
- Genus Marmosops
- Bishop's Slender Opossum (Marmosops bishopi)
- Narrow-headed Slender Opossum (Marmosops cracens)
- Voss' Slender Opossum (Marmosops creightoni)
- Dusky Slender Opossum (Marmosops fuscatus)
- Handley's Slender Opossum (Marmosops handleyi)
- Tschudi's Slender Opossum (Marmosops impavidus)
- Gray Slender Opossum (Marmosops incanus)
- Panama Slender Opossum (Marmosops invictus)
- Junin Slender Opossum (Marmosops juninensis)
- Neblina Slender Opossum (Marmosops neblina)
- White-bellied Slender Opossum (Marmosops noctivagus)
- Bolivian Slender Opossum (Marmosops ocellatus)
- Brazilian Slender Opossum (Marmosops paulensis)
- Delicate Slender Opossum (Marmosops parvidens)
- Pinheiro's Slender Opossum (Marmosops pinheiroi)
- Genus Metachirus
- Brown Four-eyed Opossum (Metachirus myosuros)
- Guianan Brown Four-eyed Opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)
- Genus Micoureus
- Alston's Mouse Opossum (Micoureus alstoni)
- Pale-bellied Woolly Mouse Opossum (Micoureus constantiae)
- Woolly Mouse Opossum (Micoureus demerarae)
- Tate's Woolly Mouse Opossum (Micoureus paraguayana)
- Little Woolly Mouse Opossum (Micoureus phaeus)
- Bare-tailed Woolly Mouse Opossum (Micoureus regina)
- Genus Monodelphis
- Sepia Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis adusta)
- Northern three-striped Opossum (Monodelphis americana)
- Northern Red-sided Opossum (Monodelphis brevicaudata)
- Yellow-sided Opossum (Monodelphis dimidiata)
- Gray Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis domestica)
- Emilia's Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis emiliae)
- Amazonian Red-sided Opossum (Monodelphis glirina)
- Ihering's Three-striped Opossum (Monodelphis iheringi)
- Pygmy Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis kunsi)
- Maraj Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis maraxina)
- Osgood's Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis osgoodi)
- Hooded Red-sided Opossum (Monodelphis palliolata)
- Peruvian Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis ronaldi)
- Chestnut-striped Opossum (Monodelphis rubida)
- Long-nosed Short-tailed Opossum (Monodelphis scalops)
- Southern Red-sided Opossum (Monodelphis sorex)
- Southern Three-striped Opossum (Monodelphis theresa)
- Red Three-striped Opossum (Monodelphis umbristriata)
- One-striped Opossum (Monodelphis unistriata)
- Genus Philander
- Black Four-eyed Opossum (Philander andersoni)
- Southeastern Four-eyed Opossum (Philander frenata)
- McIlhenny's Four-eyed Opossum (Philander mcilhennyi)
- Gray Four-eyed Opossum (Philander opossum)
- Genus Thylamys
- Cinderella Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys cinderella)
- Elegant Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys elegans)
- Karimi's Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys karimii)
- Paraguayan Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys macrurus)
- White-bellied Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys pallidior)
- Common Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys pusillus)
- Argentine Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys sponsorius)
- Tate's Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys tatei)
- Dwarf Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys velutinus)
- Buff-bellied Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys venustus)
- Genus Tlacuatzin
- Gray Mouse Opossum (Tlacuatzin canescens)
- agricolai-unduaviensis group (formerly referred to Gracilinanus, the group represents a distinct and undescribed genus and will be R.S. Voss et al. (submitted))
- Subfamily Caluromyinae
| Mammals |
|---|
| Monotremata |
|
Placentalia: Xenarthra | Dermoptera | Desmostylia | Scandentia | Primates | Rodentia | Lagomorpha | Insectivora | Chiroptera | Pholidota | Carnivora | Perissodactyla | Artiodactyla | Cetacea | Afrosoricida | Macroscelidea | Tubulidentata | Hyracoidea | Proboscidea | Sirenia |
|
Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia | Paucituberculata | Microbiotheria | Dasyuromorphia | Peramelemorphia | Notoryctemorphia | Diprotodontia |
cs:Vačice americké de:Beutelratten es:Didelphimorphia lt:Oposumai nl:Opossums pl:Dydelfowate pt:Didelphidae