Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A taxonomic family within the order Didelphimorphia — the opossums.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Didelphis +‎ -idae

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Didelphidae.

Examples

  • Note: possum, opossum, any of a family (Didelphidae) of American marsupials that usually have a pointed snout and prehensile tail; especially: a common omnivorous largely nocturnal and arboreal mammal (Didelphis virginiana) of North America having grayish to blackish fur with white on the cheeks;

    Albert Collins Lyrics 2009

  • I don't know if they share anything but plesiomorphies with Didelphidae.

    More on phorusrhacids: the biggest, the fastest, the mostest out-of-placest Darren Naish 2006

  • As for whether peradectines are really opossums (as in, true members of Didelphidae), you are right that this classification is probably based on plesiomorphies.

    More on phorusrhacids: the biggest, the fastest, the mostest out-of-placest Darren Naish 2006

  • Note: possum, opossum, any of a family (Didelphidae) of American marsupials that usually have a pointed snout and prehensile tail; especially: a common omnivorous largely nocturnal and arboreal mammal (Didelphis virginiana) of North America having grayish to blackish fur with white on the cheeks;

    Don't Go Reaching Across My Plate Albert Collins 1980

  • Visits Caluromys lanatus (Didelphidae) flowers Pseudobombax tomentosum (Bombacaceae). probable case pollination marsupials in Brazil

    MyLinkVault Newest Links 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.