Least ConcernCommon Opossum
Didelphis marsupialis
One of the 5 opossums on WAnimals
Mammals · Didelphimorphia · Didelphidae
Chironectes minimus
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The yapok, also known as the water opossum (Chironectes minimus), is a species of didelphimorph marsupial of the family Didelphidae, the only one in the genus Chironectes, notable for its skill in the water. Despite its wide distribution, it is such an elusive and nocturnal creature that it is rarely seen, which has made scientific study of it extremely difficult for centuries. The yapok also plays an ecological role as a controller of aquatic insect populations, helping to keep the balance of the riverside ecosystems it lives in.
Weight
604 g – 790 g
Size
27 cm – 40 cm
Life expectancy
3 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sources consulted: Wikipedia (es): Chironectes minimus
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 77.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Water Opossum — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Based on what we already know about water opossum.
The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
