Stats

Lifespan

1-2 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Walking

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Playing Dead

Status

Common

About

This cat-sized marsupial lives in forests and urban areas across North America. It possesses fifty sharp teeth and enters a catatonic state to mimic death when threatened.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   newborn

   A live-born newborn nurses on its mother's milk and depends on her for warmth and protection.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A weaned juvenile begins eating solid food and learning from its parents or group.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Didelphimorphia

Family

Didelphidae

Genus

Didelphis

Species

Didelphis virginiana