Didelphimorphia is an order of marsupial mammals. Members of this order are called didelphimorphs, or opossums. They are primarily found in South America, though some are found in Central America and Mexico and one, the Virginia opossum, ranges into the United States and Canada. They have a variety of sizes, shapes, and fur patterns, and range in size from the 6 cm (2 in) (plus 9 cm (4 in) tail) Kalinowski's mouse opossum to the 55 cm (22 in) (plus 54 cm (21 in) tail) Virginia opossum. Didelphimorphs are primarily found in forests, as well as savannas, shrublands, and grasslands. Almost no population estimates have been made for didelphimorph species, though the one-striped opossum is classified as Critically Endangered with a population of less than ten, Handley's slender opossum is also critically endangered, and the red-bellied gracile opossum is extinct, having last been seen in 1962.

The 93 extant species of Didelphimorphia are grouped into a single family, Didelphidae, which is divided into four subfamilies: Caluromyinae, containing four species in two genera; Glironiinae, containing a single species; Hyladelphinae, also with a single species; and Didelphinae, containing 87 species split between 14 genera. Over one hundred extinct Didelphimorph species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories

Conservation status
EX	Extinct (1 species)
EW	Extinct in the wild (0 species)
CR	Critically Endangered (2 species)
EN	Endangered (0 species)
VU	Vulnerable (6 species)
NT	Near threatened (3 species)
LC	Least concern (67 species)
Other categories
DD	Data deficient (14 species)
NE	Not evaluated (0 species)

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the didelphimorph's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†".

Classification

The order Didelphimorphia consists of one family, Didelphidae, which is divided into the subfamilies Caluromyinae, Glironiinae, Hyladelphinae, and Didelphinae. Caluromyinae contains 4 species in 2 genera, Glironiinae and Hyladelphinae each contain a single species, and Didelphinae contains 87 species in 14 genera, as well as the extinct red-bellied gracile opossum, which was last seen in 1962. Many of these species are further subdivided into subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

Didelphimorphs

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

Subfamily Caluromyinae

Genus Caluromys – Allen, 1900 – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Bare-tailed woolly opossum	C. philander (Linnaeus, 1758) Four subspecies C. p. affinis C. p. dichurus C. p. philander C. p. trinitatis	Eastern and northeastern South America	Size: 16–28 cm (6–11 in) long, plus 25–41 cm (10–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Fruit, as well as gum, nectar, small vertebrates, and invertebrates	LC  Unknown
Brown-eared woolly opossum	C. lanatus (Olfers, 1818) Four subspecies C. l. cicur C. l. lanatus C. l. ochropus C. l. ornatus	Central and northwestern South America	Size: 20–32 cm (8–13 in) long, plus 33–44 cm (13–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Fruit, invertebrates, and some small vertebrates, as well as nectar and flowers	LC  Unknown
Derby's woolly opossum	C. derbianus (Waterhouse, 1841) Six subspecies C. d. aztecus C. d. centralis C. d. derbianus C. d. fervidus C. d. nauticus C. d. pallidus	Central American and northwestern South America	Size: 22–30 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 38–45 cm (15–18 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Fruit, seeds, leaves, soft vegetables, insects, and other small invertebrates	LC  Unknown

Genus Caluromysiops – Sanborn, 1951 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Black-shouldered opossum	C. irrupta Sanborn, 1951	West-central South America	Size: 25–33 cm (10–13 in) long, plus 31–34 cm (12–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Flowers and fruit, as well as small rodents	LC  Unknown

Subfamily Didelphinae

Genus Chacodelphys – Voss et al., 2004 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Chacoan pygmy opossum	C. formosa (Shamel, 1930)	Northeastern Argentina	Size: About 7 cm (3 in) long, plus 6 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland Diet: Unknown	NT  Unknown

Genus Chironectes – Illiger, 1811 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Water opossum	C. minimus (Zimmermann, 1780) Four subspecies C. m. argyrodytes C. m. langsdorffi C. m. minimus C. m. panamensis	Central America, northern South America, southeastern South America	Size: 27–40 cm (11–16 in) long, plus 30–43 cm (12–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Fish, crabs, other crustaceans, and insects, as well as frogs	LC  Unknown

Genus Cryptonanus – Voss et al., 2005 – five species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Agricola's gracile opossum	C. agricolai (Moojen, 1943)	Eastern Brazil	Size: 8–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–11 cm (4 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Unknown	DD  Unknown
Chacoan gracile opossum	C. chacoensis (Tate, 1931)	Southern South America	Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–13 cm (4–5 in) tail Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Unknown fruit and insects	LC  Unknown
Guahiba gracile opossum	C. guahybae (Tate, 1931)	Southern Brazil	Size: About 9 cm (4 in) long, plus 11 cm (4 in) tail Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Unknown	DD  Unknown
Red-bellied gracile opossum†	C. ignitus Díaz, Flores, Barquez, 2002	Northwestern Argentina	Size: About 11 cm (4 in) long, plus 12 cm (5 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Unknown	EX  Unknown
Unduavi gracile opossum	C. unduaviensis (Shamel, 1930)	Northern Bolivia	Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–14 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Unknown	DD  Unknown

Genus Didelphis – Linnaeus, 1758 – six species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Andean white-eared opossum	D. pernigra J. A. Allen, 1900	Northwestern South America	Size: 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, plus 25–54 cm (10–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Small vertebrates, carrion, invertebrates, and plants	LC  Unknown
Big-eared opossum	D. aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1826)	Eastern South America	Size: 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, plus 25–54 cm (10–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Arthropods and fruit, as well as other invertebrates and small vertebrates	LC  Unknown
Common opossum	D. marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758 Two subspecies D. m. caucae D. m. marsupialis	Central American and northern South America	Size: 26–43 cm (10–17 in) long, plus 40 cm (16 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Omnivorous; eats invertebrates, vertebrates, leaves, fruit, nectar, and carrion	LC  Unknown
Guianan white-eared opossum	D. imperfecta Mondolfi, Hernández, 1984	Northern South America	Size: 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, plus 25–54 cm (10–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Omnivorous; primarily fruit and insects	LC  Unknown
Virginia opossum	D. virginiana Kerr, 1792 Four subspecies D. v. californica D. v. pigra D. v. virginiana D. v. yucatanensis	North America and Central America	Size: 33–55 cm (13–22 in) long, plus 25–54 cm (10–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Omnivorous, including vertebrates, invertebrates, plant material, fruits, grains and carrion	LC  Unknown
White-eared opossum	D. albiventris Lund, 1840	Eastern and southern South America	Size: 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, plus 25–54 cm (10–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Small vertebrates, carrion, invertebrates, and plants	LC  Unknown

Genus Gracilinanus – Gardner, Creighton, 1989 – six species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Aceramarca gracile opossum	G. aceramarcae (Tate, 1931)	Western Aouth America	Size: About 11 cm (4 in) long, plus 14 cm (6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Fruit, insects and other small invertebrates	LC  Unknown
Agile gracile opossum	G. agilis (Burmeister, 1854)	Central South America	Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 10–16 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Brazilian gracile opossum	G. microtarsus (Wagner, 1842) Two subspecies G. m. guahybae G. m. microtarsus	Southeastern South America	Size: About 10 cm (4 in) long, plus 13 cm (5 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, other invertebrates, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Emilia's gracile opossum	G. emiliae (Thomas, 1909)	Scattered northern South America	Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long, plus 14 cm (6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to be insects and fruit	DD  Unknown
Northern gracile opossum	G. marica (Thomas, 1898)	Northern South America	Size: About 10 cm (4 in) long, plus 13 cm (5 in) tail Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Believed to be insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Wood sprite gracile opossum	G. dryas (Thomas, 1898)	Northern South America	Size: About 11 cm (4 in) long, plus 14 cm (6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to be insects and fruit	LC  Unknown

Genus Lestodelphys – Tate, 1934 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Patagonian opossum	L. halli (Thomas, 1921)	Southern South America	Size: 13–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and desert Diet: Invertebrates, as well as birds, reptiles, and fruit	LC  Unknown

Genus Lutreolina – Thomas, 1910 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Big lutrine opossum	L. crassicaudata (Desmarest, 1804) Two subspecies L. c. crassicaudata L. c. turneri	Scattered South America (Massoia's lutrine opossum in red)	Size: 26–35 cm (10–14 in) long, plus 24–30 cm (9–12 in) tail Habitat: Forest, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Omnivorous; crabs, beetles, amphibians, birds, seeds, and vegetation, as well as other invertebrates, fish, and small mammals	LC  Unknown
Massoia's lutrine opossum	L. massoia Martínez-Lanfranco, Flores, Jayat, D'Elía, 2014	South-central South America (big lutrine opossum in green)	Size: 18–24 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 20–26 cm (8–10 in) tail Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Small mammals, fish, and invertebrates, as well as bird eggs and fruit	LC  Unknown

Genus Marmosa – Gray, 1821 – seventeen species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Alston's mouse opossum	M. alstoni (Allen, 1900)	Central America, northwestern tip of South America	Size: 18–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 24–28 cm (9–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, small vertebrates, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum	M. regina Thomas, 1924	Western South America	Size: 15–21 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 21–30 cm (8–12 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit, as well as nectar, small vertebrates, and eggs	NE  Unknown
Guajira mouse opossum	M. xerophila Handley, Gordon, 1979	Northern South America	Size: 8–16 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Insects and fruit, as well as lizards, bird eggs, and small rodents	VU  Unknown
Heavy-browed mouse opossum	M. andersoni Pine, 1972	Peru	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, as well as fruit	DD  Unknown
Linnaeus's mouse opossum	M. murina (Linnaeus, 1758)	Northern and eastern South America	Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 13–21 cm (5–8 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, small animals, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Little woolly mouse opossum	M. phaea Thomas, 1899	Northwestern South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit, as well as nectar, small vertebrates, and eggs	VU  Unknown
Mexican mouse opossum	M. mexicana Merriam, 1897 Three subspecies M. m. mayensis M. m. mexicana M. m. savannarum	Mexico and Central America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 13–23 cm (5–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Insects and fruit, as well as small rodents, lizards, birds, and eggs	LC  Unknown
Quechuan mouse opossum	M. quichua Wagner, 1842	Western South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit, as well as nectar, small vertebrates, and eggs	LC  Unknown
Red mouse opossum	M. rubra Tate, 1931	Western South America	Size: 12–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 18–22 cm (7–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	DD  Unknown
Robinson's mouse opossum	M. robinsoni Bangs, 1898 Six subspecies M. r. chapmani M. r. fulviventer M. r. grenadae M. r. luridavolta M. r. robinsoni M. r. ruatanica	Northern South America and Central America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Fruit and insects	LC  Unknown
Rufous mouse opossum	M. lepida (Thomas, 1888)	Northwestern South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Tate's woolly mouse opossum	M. paraguayana Tate, 1931 Two subspecies M. p. paraguayana M. p. travassosi	Southeastern South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Omnivorous and insectivorous	LC  Unknown
Tyler's mouse opossum	M. tyleriana Tate, 1931	Northern South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects as well as fruit	DD  Unknown
White-bellied woolly mouse opossum	M. constantiae Thomas, 1904	Central South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit, as well as nectar, small vertebrates, and eggs	LC  Unknown
Woolly mouse opossum	M. demerarae Thomas, 1905 Four subspecies M. d. areniticola M. d. demerarae M. d. dominus M. d. esmeraldae	Northeastern South America	Size: 8–22 cm (3–9 in) long, plus 12–27 cm (5–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, small animals, fruit, and nectar	LC  Unknown

Genus Marmosops – Matschie, 1916 – seventeen species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Andean Slender Mouse Opossum	M. caucae (Thomas, 1900)	Northwestern South America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Bishop's slender opossum	M. bishopi (Pine, 1981)	Central South America	Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–16 cm (4–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Brazilian slender opossum	M. paulensis (Tate, 1931)	Southeastern Brazil	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Creighton's slender opossum	M. creightoni Voss, Tarifa, Yensen, 2004	Zongo River valley in Bolivia	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	DD  Unknown
Delicate slender opossum	M. parvidens (Tate, 1931)	Northern South America	Size: 9–11 cm (4 in) long, plus 14–16 cm (6–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Dusky slender opossum	M. fuscatus (Thomas, 1896) Two subspecies M. f. fuscatus M. f. perfuscus	Northern South America	Size: 13–14 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 14–15 cm (6–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	DD  Unknown
Gray slender opossum	M. incanus (Lund, 1841)	Eastern South America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Handley's slender opossum	M. handleyi (Pine, 1981)	Central Columbia	Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	CR  Unknown
Junin slender opossum	M. juninensis (Tate, 1931)	Central Peru	Size: 9–11 cm (4 in) long, plus 12–14 cm (5–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	VU  Unknown
Narrow-headed slender opossum	M. cracens Handley, Gordon, 1979	Northern South America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	DD  Unknown
Neblina slender opossum	M. neblina Gardner, 1990	Northwestern South America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Panama slender opossum	M. invictus (Goldman, 1921)	Panama	Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Pantepui slender opossum	M. pakaraimae Voss, Lim, Díaz-Nieto, Jansa, 2013	Northern South America	Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 15–17 cm (6–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	VU  Unknown
Pinheiro's slender opossum	M. pinheiroi (Pine, 1981)	Northern South America	Size: 8–13 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 12–16 cm (5–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Spectacled slender opossum	M. ocellatus (Tate, 1931)	Bolivia	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
Tschudi's slender opossum	M. impavidus Tschudi, 1844	Northwestern South America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown
White-bellied slender opossum	M. noctivagus (Tschudi, 1844)	Western South America	Size: 9–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 10–22 cm (4–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown

Genus Metachirus – Burmeister, 1854 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Brown four-eyed opossum	M. nudicaudatus (Geoffroy, 1803) Four subspecies M. n. colombianus M. n. modestus M. n. nudicaudatus M. n. tschudii	South America and Central America	Size: 19–31 cm (7–12 in) long, plus 19–39 cm (7–15 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, as well as fruit, seeds, and small mammals	LC  Unknown

Genus Monodelphis – Burnett, 1830 – seventeen species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Amazonian red-sided opossum	M. glirina (Wagner, 1842)	Central South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Emilia's short-tailed opossum	M. emiliae (Thomas, 1912)	Central South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Gray short-tailed opossum	M. domestica (Wagner, 1842)	Central and eastern South America	Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects, fruits, and small animals	LC  Unknown
Handley's short-tailed opossum	M. handleyi Solari, 2007	Central South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	DD  Unknown
Hooded red-sided opossum	M. palliolata (Osgood, 1914)	Northern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Ihering's three-striped opossum	M. iheringi (Thomas, 1888)	Eastern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest and unknown Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	DD  Unknown
Long-nosed short-tailed opossum	M. scalops (Thomas, 1888)	Eastern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Northern red-sided opossum	M. brevicaudata (Erxleben, 1777)	Northern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Northern three-striped opossum	M. americana (Müller, 1776)	Eastern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
One-striped opossum	M. unistriata (Wagner, 1842)	Southeastern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	CR  2–10
Osgood's short-tailed opossum	M. osgoodi Doutt, 1938	Western South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Peruvian short-tailed opossum	M. peruviana (Osgood, 1913)	Peru	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Pygmy short-tailed opossum	M. kunsi Pine, 1975	Central South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Reig's opossum	M. reigi Lew, Pérez-Hernández, 2004	Northern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	VU  Unknown
Ronald's opossum	M. ronaldi Solari, 2004	Western South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Sepia short-tailed opossum	M. adusta (Thomas, 1897)	Northwestern South America	Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Invertebrates, fruits and small vertebrates	LC  Unknown
Yellow-sided opossum	M. dimidiata (Wagner, 1847)	Southern South America	Size: 7–20 cm (3–8 in) long, plus 4–11 cm (2–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Small vertebrates, insects, carrion, seeds, and fruit	LC  Unknown

Genus Philander – Brisson, 1762 – five species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Anderson's four-eyed opossum	P. andersoni (Osgood, 1913)	Northwestern South America	Size: 25–35 cm (10–14 in) long, plus 25–35 cm (10–14 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, other small invertebrates, eggs, and fruit	LC  Unknown
Deltaic four-eyed opossum	P. deltae Lew, Pérez-Hernández, Ventura, 2006	Northern South America	Size: 20–38 cm (8–15 in) long, plus 19–36 cm (7–14 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Small mammals, other small vertebrates, eggs, insects, other invertebrates, fruit, and carrion	LC  Unknown
Gray four-eyed opossum	P. opossum (Linnaeus, 1758) Two subspecies P. o. fuscogriseus P. o. opossum	Northern and central South America and Central America	Size: 20–34 cm (8–13 in) long, plus 19–36 cm (7–14 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Omnivorous, including invertebrates, small animals, leaves, bark, seeds, nuts, nectar, and fruit	LC  Unknown
McIlhenny's four-eyed opossum	P. mcilhennyi Gardner, Patton, 1972	Central South America	Size: 28–31 cm (11–12 in) long, plus 26–38 cm (10–15 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to be omnivorous	LC  Unknown
Southeastern four-eyed opossum	P. frenatus Olfers, 1818		Size: 21–29 cm (8–11 in) long, plus 17–32 cm (7–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Omnivorous, including flowers, fruit, invertebrates, and small vertebrates	LC  Unknown

Genus Thylamys – Gray, 1843 – nine species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Argentine fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. sponsorius (Thomas, 1921)	Central South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	LC  Unknown
Buff-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. venustus (Thomas, 1902)	Central South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	DD  Unknown
Common fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. pusillus (Desmarest, 1804)	Central South America	Size: 7–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 8–14 cm (3–6 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	LC  Unknown
Dwarf fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. velutinus (Wagner, 1842)	Eastern South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	NT  Unknown
Elegant fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. elegans (Waterhouse, 1839)	Southwestern South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	LC  Unknown
Karimi's fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. karimii (Petter, 1968)	Central South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	VU  Unknown
Paraguayan fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. macrurus (Olfers, 1818)	Central South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	NT  Unknown
Tate's fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. tatei (Handley, 1957)	Western South America	Size: 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland and desert Diet: Insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates	DD  Unknown
White-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossum	T. pallidior (Thomas, 1902)	Southwestern South America	Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland and desert Diet: Arthropods, as well as leaves, fruit, and seeds	LC  Unknown

Genus Tlacuatzin – Voss, Jansa, 2003 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Grayish mouse opossum	T. canescens (Allen, 1893)	Southern Mexico	Size: 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long, plus 9–17 cm (4–7 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Insects and fruit	LC  Unknown

Subfamily Glironiinae

Genus Glironia – Thomas, 1912 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Bushy-tailed opossum	G. venusta Thomas, 1912	West-central South America	Size: 13–20 cm (5–8 in) long, plus 19–23 cm (7–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, seeds, fruit, and eggs	LC  Unknown

Subfamily Hyladelphinae

Genus Hyladelphys – Voss, Lunde, Simmons, 2001 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Kalinowski's mouse opossum	H. kalinowskii (Hershkovitz, 1992)	North-central South America	Size: 6–10 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Unknown	LC  Unknown