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Didelphis virginiana

Kerr, 1792

Virginia Opossum

G5Secure Found in 67 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106143
Element CodeAMAAA01010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderDidelphimorphia
FamilyDidelphidae
GenusDidelphis
Synonyms
Didelphis marsupialisLinnaeus, 1758
Other Common Names
Opossum d'Amérique (FR) Tlacuache Común, Guazalo, Zorro Pelón (ES) Virginia opossum (EN)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-01
Range Extent Comments
Most of eastern U.S. and adjacent southeastern Canada, ranging west to South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona, south to southern Central America; introduced in Pacific Coast states, ranging up Columbia River to Idaho. Range is expanding north and west.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Very adaptable; may be found in most habitats. Prefers wooded riparian habitats. Also in suburban areas. Abandoned burrows, buildings, hollow logs, and tree cavities are generally used for den sites. In southeastern New York, all weaning dens were in burrows; weaning dens were in more densely vegetated habitats than were nonweaning dens (Hossler et al. 1994).

Ecology

Populations typically include a high percentage of young. Winter density was 1/9.9 ha and 1/44.5 ha at two locations in Tennessee (Kissell and Kennedy 1992).

Reproduction

U.S. mating season January-July. Commonly 2 litters/year, sometimes 3; usually 1/year in north. Gestation lasts 13 days. As many as 23 offspring may compete for 13 or so teats. Average of 8-9 young are weaned after 10-12 weeks. Sexually mature at 9 months. Juveniles experience a high rate of mortality (Hossler et al. 1994). Females seldom live through more than one reproductive season.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaSNANo
QuebecS3Yes
OntarioS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
FloridaSNRYes
North DakotaS1Yes
IowaS5Yes
District of ColumbiaS5Yes
New YorkS5Yes
WisconsinS5Yes
ColoradoS1Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
OregonSNANo
South CarolinaS5Yes
MichiganS5Yes
IdahoSNANo
South DakotaS4Yes
ArkansasS5Yes
New HampshireS5Yes
MaineS4Yes
UtahSNRYes
TexasS5Yes
MassachusettsS5Yes
New MexicoSNAYes
KentuckyS5Yes
VermontS5Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
MarylandS5Yes
KansasS5Yes
MississippiS5Yes
OhioS5Yes
CaliforniaSNANo
West VirginiaS5Yes
DelawareS5Yes
MinnesotaS5Yes
IllinoisS5Yes
WyomingS5Yes
ArizonaS3Yes
LouisianaS5Yes
New JerseyS5Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
ConnecticutS5Yes
WashingtonSNANo
MissouriS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
NebraskaS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
Rhode IslandS5Yes
Roadless Areas (67)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Arizona (5)
AreaForestAcres
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
California (28)
AreaForestAcres
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
Florida (1)
AreaForestAcres
Clear LakeApalachicola National Forest5,592
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Missouri (1)
AreaForestAcres
Swan Creek Rare II Study AreaMark Twain National Forest7,310
North Carolina (7)
AreaForestAcres
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Sheep Ridge AdditionCroatan National Forest5,808
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Pennsylvania (1)
AreaForestAcres
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Texas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Virginia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
West Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Cheat MountainMonongahela National Forest8,191
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
References (27)
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