AnAge entry for Didelphis virginiana

Classification (HAGRID: 02494)

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

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

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

In the wild, these animals do not live more than 2 or 3 years. One animal has been known to live 6.6 years in captivity [0671]. Animals living on predator-free islands, live longer, start reproducing at later ages, have smaller litter sizes, and appear to age slower than their mainland counterparts [0695].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
184 days
Male sexual maturity
243 days
Gestation
12 days
Weaning
102 days
Litter size
15 (viviparous)
Litters per year
2
Inter-litter interval
122 days
Weight at birth
0.147 g
Weight at weaning
142.5 g
Adult weight
3,000 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.0129 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
Maximum longevity residual
39%

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
308ºK or 35.0ºC or 95.0ºF
Basal metabolic rate
5.2990 W
Body mass
2846.6 g
Metabolic rate per body mass
0.001862 W/g

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 179921
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9267
Entrez
Search all databases
Ageing Literature
Search Google Scholar or Search PubMed
Images
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Internet
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