Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana

PAGE INDEX
1. Lateral view
2. Teeth
3. Details

One of a group of marsupial opossum species distributed throughout the Americas.
1. Opossum skull, lateral view.
opossum teeth 2. Upper teeth of opossum.

(a) The "primitive" deciduous third premolar is replaced by a "modern" type of tooth in this species.
Details of Specimens Illustrated
Image 1
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Stage - Imm. - deciduous teeth being replaced
Date collected - August 94
Area collected - Mississippi Delta
Collection ref. - 94.307
Source - road casualty
Measurements
Condylobasal length109mm Zygomatic width59mm
Jaw length83mm Interorbital width21mm
Post-orbital constriction11mm

Latin Name : Didelphis "double womb" (referring to the pouch) from theGreek words di "two" and delphis "the womb"

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