Didelphis virginiana, the Virginia opossum, is the only extant marsupial that is native to North America. The Virginia opossum is a large didelphid; adult males average 2.8 kg and adult females average 1.9 kg (McManus, 1974). Adult D. virginiana are characterized by a long snout; a long, prehensile, scaly tail; short, black ears; long guard hair; and presence of an opposable and clawless halux of the pes. Pelage coloration varies across its geographic range (Gardner, 1973).

Dr. Ted Macrini, 2005, "Didelphis virginiana" (On-line), Digital Morphology. Accessed May 18, 2017 at http://digimorph.org/specimens/Didelphis_virginiana/.