Common Opossum

Common Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

Silhouette: Sarah Werning · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Tayrona National Natural Park
4 Verified sightings at Tayrona National Natural Park From 2019 to 2026
249 Verified sightings across all 51 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

About the Common Opossum

The common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), also called the northern black-eared opossum, is a species of marsupial living from the northeast of Mexico to Bolivia (reaching the coast of the South Pacific Ocean to the central coast of Peru), including Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Windward Islands in the Caribbean, where it is referred to as the manicou. The common opossum prefers forests, but can also be found in fields and cities.

The common opossum is found in tropical and subtropical forest, both primary and secondary, at altitudes of up to 2,200 m (7,200 ft). They use a wide range of nest sites. Most commonly, they will create one in the hollow of a tree; However, they will also dig a burrow or nest in any dark location if nothing else is suitable (which often gets them in trouble with humans). Opossums enjoy denning underground, but do not spend as much time underground during the dry season.

The common opossum is similar in size to a house cat. The fur of the opossum is actually yellow in the under-fur, but is hidden by the longer black guard-hairs that cover it, while the tail, fingers, and face are lighter with the tail being... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~40%
2 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
3 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
~20%
4 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
5 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
6 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
7 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
8 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
9 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
10 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
11 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
12 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
13 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~10%
14 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
15 Brownsberg Nature Park 🇸🇷 Suriname
Insufficient data
16 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
17 Amboró National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
18 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
19 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
20 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
21 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
22 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
23 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
24 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
25 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
26 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
27 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
28 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
29 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
30 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
31 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
32 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
33 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
34 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
35 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
36 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
37 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
Insufficient data
38 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
39 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
40 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
41 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
42 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
43 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
44 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
45 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
46 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
47 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
48 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
49 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
50 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
51 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
← Back to Tayrona National Natural Park