Mammals · Didelphimorphia · Didelphidae

Water Opossum

Chironectes minimus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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

Lifespan

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.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestFreshwaterCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Rainforest Freshwater Mammal

19countries 77parks5same family

Fun facts

adaptaciónIt is the only marsupial known to live in the water, with webbed hind feet for swimming the rivers and streams of Central and South America.
Its pouch closes watertight with a ring of muscle while it dives, so the young travel dry inside a completely submerged mother.
The male also has a pouch, which is exceptional among marsupials: he uses it to tuck away and protect his genitals while swimming.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Clean, fast-flowing rivers and streams with wooded banks, from Mexico to Argentina
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days
Litter / clutch size: 4

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironectes_minimus