Opossum
(Scientific Name: Didelphidae)

Description: Restricted to North and South America, didelphids have radiated into a wide variety of forms. Most are omnivorous or carnivorous. Several species are arboreal; one is aquatic and has fully webbed hind feet. Didelphids have a full complement of teeth (five upper and four lower incisors on each side of the jaw, one canine, three premolars, and four molars). Opossums are small to medium in body size; all have five digits on fore- and hind feet, with the first toe on the hind foot partially opposable; all digits except the first toe on the hind foot have claws (it has a nail). The tail is long, scaly, and prehensile in most species.