AnAge entry for Didelphis marsupialis

Classification (HAGRID: 02493)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Didelphimorphia
                Family: Didelphidae
                    Genus: Didelphis
Species
Didelphis marsupialis
Common name
Southern opossum

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
4.2 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 671
Sample size
Small
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

Although there are anecdotal reports suggesting a longer lifespan in captivity, the longest-lived specimen was a 4.2 year old at Rotterdam Zoo [0671].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
178 days
Male sexual maturity
240 days
Gestation
12 days
Weaning
94 days
Litter size
6 (viviparous)
Litters per year
2
Inter-litter interval
200 days
Weight at birth
0.2 g
Weight at weaning
96 g
Adult weight
1,530 g
Postnatal growth rate
Maximum longevity residual
28%

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
308ºK or 35.0ºC or 95.0ºF
Basal metabolic rate
3.3100 W
Body mass
1244.3 g
Metabolic rate per body mass
0.002660 W/g

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 552536
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9268
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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