the six species in the genus didelphis , commonly known as large american opossums , are members of the order didelphimorphia .

the genus is composed of cat-sized omnivorous species , and are recognized on their prehensile tails and the tendency to " play possum " ( feign dead ) when cornered .

the largest species , the virginia opossum , is the only marsupial to be found in north america north of mexico .

didelphis

click to enlarge this image . ( 167kb ) didelphis virginiana ( virginia opossum ) , appalachian trail click to enlarge this image . ( 309kb ) didelphis virginiana ( virginia opossum ) , midatlantic click to enlarge this image . ( 175kb )
origins of chagas disease : didelphis species are natural hosts of trypanosoma cruzi i and armadillos hosts of trypanosoma cruzi ii , including hybrids .
origins of chagas disease : didelphis species are natural hosts of trypanosoma cruzi i and armadillos hosts of trypanosoma cruzi ii , including hybrids . - pubmed - ncbi
to cite this page : siciliano martina , l . 2014 .
didelphis marsupialis
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
to cite this page : siciliano martina , l . 2013 .
didelphis virginiana
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
shripat , v . 2011 .
the online guide to the animals of trinidad and tobago
( on - line ) . the university of the west indies . accessed may 21 , 2013 at http : / / sta . uwi / fst / lifesciences / documents / didelphis _ marsupialis . pdf .
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- / / w3c / / dtd xhtml 1 . 0 transitional / / en
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i thought you might be interested in this item at urltoken title : mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference author : don e wilson ; deeann m reeder publisher : baltimore : johns hopkins university press , ©2005 . isbn / issn : 0801882214 9780801882210 0801882389 9780801882388 0801882397 9780801882395 oclc : 57557352
wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of
information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
a uniquely valuable compendium of taxonomic and distributional data on the world ' s living and historically extinct mammalian species . contributors and editors alike deserve the thanks of all
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wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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) are found throughout much of central and south america . the range of this species is limited by high elevations and dry environments . these animals are found native to the following countries : argentina , belize , bolivia , brazil , columbia , costa rica , ecuador , el salvador , french guiana , guatemala , guyana , honduras , mexico , nicaragua , panama , paraguay , peru , suriname , trinidad , tobago and venezuela . in recent history , these animals have also been introduced to a variety of islands .
( brito , et al . , 2008 ; cerqueira and tribe , 2008 )
common opossums are found in a variety of habitats throughout central and south america . these animals are considered habitat generalists and are even tolerant of anthropogenically altered environments . they are not found in areas of exceptionally high elevation or extremely dry habitats , although they are found in montane environments in costa rica and may survive in areas with a wide range of precipitation . it has been suggested that common opossums may be the most tolerant and adaptable neotropical mammal . their preferred habitats include tropical , subtropical , old growth , evergreen and gallery forests in lowland regions below about 2 , 000 meters on average . these animals also frequent urban environments such as near human dwellings and garbage dumps , as well as agricultural lands including pastures and cacao , coffee and citrus plantations . common opossums may be found on the ground or in large trees , although they are more terrestrial than some members of their genus .
( adler , et al . , 2012 ; brito , et al . , 2008 ; cerqueira and tribe , 2008 ; estrada , et al . , 1994 ; medellin , 1994 ; reid , 2009 ; tyndale - biscoe , 1973 )
common opossums are robust marsupials . the fur on their body is thick with long guard hairs , leading these animals to appear somewhat disheveled . their dorsal pelage is often dark , typically blackish or grayish , but in rare instances they may appear whitish . in comparison , their ventral fur is yellow or cream . these animals have primarily whitish fur on their faces and a dark stripe extending to the crown of their heads , with a black ring around both eyes . their ears are large and all black . common opossums have sharp claws , long whiskers and a primarily naked prehensile tail that is slightly longer than their body . these animals are sexually dimorphic ; males trapped in french guiana averaged 1 . 2 kg , whereas females averaged 1 . 03 kg . these values may be low ; other sources suggest that their body weights range between 4 to 6 kg . in general , adult males have longer canines than adult females . common opossums typically have a total body length of 371 mm ( ranging from 265 to 430 mm ) , including a tail length of 395 mm .
( castillo - flores and calvo - irabien , 2003 ; reid , 2009 ; richard - hansen , et al . , 1999 ; shripat , 2011 ; tyndale - biscoe and renfree , 1987 )
common opossums show a polygynous mating system , in which males compete for reproductive females . these animals are almost exclusively solitary , but come together seasonally for breeding .
do not exhibit courtship rituals and do not pair bond . females experience a 25 to 32 day estrous cycle . when resources are limited or unavailable these animals may choose not to mate .
( fernandes , et al . , 2010 ; julien - laferriere and atramentowicz , 1990 ; o ' connell , 2006 ; shripat , 2011 ; sunquist , et al . , 1987 )
breeding seasons and the number of annual litters varies based on latitude . breeding seasons can vary from one long season from january to september or several shorter seasons annually . these seasons may be correlated with seasonal precipitation . female common opossums begin breeding when they are 6 to 7 months old . gestation typically lasts 13 to 15 days , after which 2 to 20 altricial young are born , interestingly ; animals living closer to the equator tend to have smaller litters . at birth , their young are tiny ; they are usually about 1 cm long and weigh about 0 . 13 grams . although they are extremely under - developed , newborn common opossums have well - developed claws on their front legs that help them climb to their mother’s pouch . once inside the pouch , their young remain attached to the mammae for about 50 days . young are weaned and independent when they are 90 to 125 days old , often when fruit is plentiful .
( brito , et al . , 2008 ; cabello , 2006 ; gustavo , et al . , 1990 ; julien - laferriere and atramentowicz , 1990 ; o ' connell , 2006 ; shripat , 2011 ; tyndale - biscoe and mackenzie , 1976 ; tyndale - biscoe and renfree , 1987 ; tyndale - biscoe , 1973 ; tyndale - biscoe , 2005 )
breeding season breeding season varies depending on latitude , but likely correlates to seasonal precipitation .
common opossums offer very little parental care . males have no involvement in raising their offspring and females invest a minimal effort . when their tiny offspring are born , they begin a harrowing journey to their mother’s pouch ; many of the young will not survive . female common opossums typically only have 9 teats available for nursing , so they often have more offspring than they can accommodate . however , they have a fairly low mortality rate once they are safely inside the pouch and nursing . the young may begin leaving the pouch when they are about 70 days old , at which time they may begin riding on their mother’s back while she forages . the young become independent when they are weaned between 90 and 125 days old . interestingly , a study in venezuela determined that females with ample resources are more likely to have mostly male offspring , whereas , when resources become limited they typically have a greater number of females in their litters .
common opossums are very short lived ; they typically live fewer than 2 years . in a long term study of these animals , the oldest individual lived to be 20 months old , in another study ; the oldest individual lived to be 11 months old . these animals experience their greatest mortality rate prior to maturity and while lactating . common opossums are frequent victims of collisions with cars .
( kajin , et al . , 2008 ; pinowski , 2005 ; reid , 2009 ; sunquist , et al . , 1987 )
common opossums are solitary and nocturnal . they begin their daily activities about an hour before sunset ; however , their activity level peaks from 11 pm to 3 am . these animals are primarily terrestrial but spend a significant amount of time in trees , although other members of their genus are much more arboreal . during daylight hours , common opossums stay inside their burrows . burrow locations vary and include tree cavities , underground , in palm or fig trees , in the tree canopy or in the abandoned nests of other species . these animals do not maintain a burrow for very long , males remain in the same den for about 1 . 5 days on average and females remain in the same den for about 5 . 1 days .
( adler , et al . , 2012 ; brito , et al . , 2008 ; julien - laferriere and atramentowicz , 1990 ; reid , 2009 ; shripat , 2011 ; sunquist , et al . , 1987 ; vaughan , et al . , 1999 )
male common opossums maintain a much larger home range than their female counterparts . females average 16 . 3 hectares ( + / - 8 . 2 ha ) , whereas males average a home range of 123 hectares ( + / - 60 . 8 ha ) . male home ranges overlap ; generally there is about one individual per hectare .
( brito , et al . , 2008 ; sunquist , et al . , 1987 )
common opossums use a variety of perception channels . their auditory ability develops relatively late in life , young do not fully develop their auditory capabilities until they are about 80 days old . common opossums may communicate vocally , specifically when they are engaged in an aggressive encounter . in such circumstances , these animals may hiss , growl or screech . common opossums also perform a variety of visual displays when engaged in an aggressive interaction including rocking from side to side , drooling , baring their teeth , and in the case of an extreme threat , these animal have also been known to enter a catatonic state , commonly known as ‘playing opossum’ . olfaction is also used to communicate ; common opossums may produce a secretion from their anal gland or spray urine and feces when a threat is perceived . their vision is acute and is likely on par with the visual abilities of cats ; however , their visual acuity is limited when compared to some primates .
( ehret , 1983 ; oswaldo - cruz , et al . , 1979 ; reid , 2009 ; shripat , 2011 ; volchan , et al . , 2004 )
common opossums have a very broad diet . their feeding habits are often referred to as opportunistic omnivory . their diet includes invertebrates , vertebrates , leaves , fruits , nectar and carrion . common opossums may alter their diet seasonally , during the dry season mammals and birds are more likely consumed , whereas during the wet season they rely more heavily on fruits , snakes and toads . regardless of the season , invertebrates are a primary staple of their diet including
. after weaning , their diet remains fairly constant throughout their life , although older animals tend to consume vertebrates more frequently . common opossums eat a variety of vertebrates including birds such as
and a variety of small mammals . interestingly , their ability to consume rattlesnakes is facilitated by their apparent immunity to the venom of many members of family
( almeida - santos , et al . , 2000 ; cerqueira and tribe , 2008 ; cordero and nicolas , 1987 ; garrett and boyer , 1993 ; reid , 2009 ; reidy , 2009 )
given their abundance , common opossums are likely prey for a variety of large mammals throughout central and south america . their known predators include
. when a threat is detected , common opossums may choose to run or climb a tree to evade predators . less frequently , these animals may enter a catatonic state , commonly known as ' playing opossum ' . this death feigning behavior may last as little as 1 minute or as long as 6 hours .
( gustavo , et al . , 1990 ; rotenberg , et al . , 2012 ; shripat , 2011 )
common opossums carry a variety of parasites ; some reports claim they may carry up to 46 species of internal and external parasites . most notably ,
in their large and small intestines . common opossums are also important seed dispersers . they move some seeds due to ingestion after eating fruits , such as for
. these plants are anthropogenic herbs and have been introduced to the forest understory partially via the fur of animals .
( castillo - flores and calvo - irabien , 2003 ; cerqueira and tribe , 2008 ; deane , et al . , 1984 ; jimenez , et al . , 2011 ; medellin , 1994 )
common opossums are often hunted by humans . they are killed for sport and food and are even part of the illegal wild game trade . some cultures believe that the fat of common opossums can be used to treat a variety of ailments including stomach aches , rheumatism , diarrhea , inflammation , skin infections , labor pains , asthma , headaches , toothaches , ear aches and sore throats .
( alves and rosa , 2006 ; alves and rosa , 2007 ; brito , et al . , 2008 ; junior , et al . , 2010 )
common opossums are known to transmit diseases which impact human populations , such as chagas disease and leishmaniansis . these animals may also be considered pests due to their aptitude for killing bats caught in research mist nets and their proclivity for poultry .
( brito , et al . , 2008 ; cabello , 2006 ; deane , et al . , 1984 ; reid , 2009 )
common opossums are currently listed as a species of least concern according to the iucn red list of threatened species . these animals are found throughout much of central and south america and likely have a very large population size . their ability to live in anthropogenically disturbed environments facilities this species broad success .
are commonly grouped into either ‘white - eared’ or ‘black - eared opossums’ . common opossums (
living in the southern part of the new world . in other words , central and south america .
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state ; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth / hatching . in birds , naked and helpless after hatching .
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature . endothermy is a synapomorphy of the mammalia , although it may have arisen in a ( now extinct ) synapsid ancestor ; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities . convergent in birds .
forest biomes are dominated by trees , otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality .
offspring are produced in more than one group ( litters , clutches , etc . ) and across multiple seasons ( or other periods hospitable to reproduction ) . iteroparous animals must , by definition , survive over multiple seasons ( or periodic condition changes ) .
this terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains , either without vegetation or covered by low , tundra - like vegetation .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
rainforests , both temperate and tropical , are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground . epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant . precipitation is typically not limiting , but may be somewhat seasonal .
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator , from 23 . 5 degrees north to 23 . 5 degrees south .
living in cities and large towns , landscapes dominated by human structures and activity .
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female .
adler , g . , a . carvajal , s . davis - foust , j . dittel . 2012 . habitat associations of opossums and rodents in a lowland forest in french guiana .
almeida - santos , s . , m . antoniazzi , o . sant ' anna , c . jared . 2000 . predation by the opossum
alves , r . , i . rosa . 2006 . from cnidarians to mammals : the use of animals as remedies in fishing communities in northeast brazil .
alves , r . , i . rosa . 2007 . zootherapeutic practices among fishing communities in north and northeast brazil . a comparison .
austad , s . , m . sunquist . 1987 . sex ratio manipulation in the common opossum .
brito , d . , d . astuade moraes , d . lew , p . soriano , l . emmons , a . cuaron , k . helgen , r . reid , e . vazquez . 2008 .
( on - line ) . iucn red list of threatened species . accessed may 21 , 2013 at
castillo - flores , a . , l . calvo - irabien . 2003 . animal dispersal of two secondary - vegetation herbs into the evergreen rainforest of south - eastern mexico .
ehret , g . 1983 . development of hearing and response behavior to sound stimuli : behavioral studies . pp . 211 - 237 in r romand , ed .
estrada , a . , r . coates - estrada , d . merritt jr . 1994 . non - flying mammals and landscape change in the tropical rainforest region of los tuxtlas , mexico .
gustavo , a . , b . da fonseca , j . robinson . 1990 . forest size and structure : competitive and predatory effects on small mammal communities .
julien - laferriere , d . , m . atramentowicz . 1990 . feeding and reproduction of three
junior , p . , d . guimaraes , y . le perdu . 2010 . non - legalized commerce in game meat in the brazilian amazon : a case study .
o ' connell , m . 2006 . american opossums . pp . 808 - 813 in d macdonald , s norris , eds .
oswaldo - cruz , e . , j . hokoc , a . sousa . 1979 . a schematic eye for the opossum .
reidy , j . 2009 . nest predators of lance - tailed manakins on isla boca brava , panama .
richard - hansen , c . , j . vie , n . vidal , j . keravec . 1999 . body measurements on 40 species of mammals from french guiana .
tyndale - biscoe , c . , r . mackenzie . 1976 . reproduction in
volchan , e . , c . vargas , j . da franca , a . pereira jr , c . da rocha - miranda . 2004 . tooled for the task : vision in the opossum .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
( cuaron , et al . , 2012 ; harmon , et al . , 2005 ; hossler , et al . , 1994 ; kanda , 2005 )
virginia opossums may be found in a fairly wide range of habitats ; however , they typically prefer areas near a water source , such as a stream or swamp . these animals may live in woodlands and thickets but they are very often found within human altered areas . this species has been extremely successful due to their ability to thrive in urban areas ; this is assisted by their small body size , nocturnal habits and high reproductive output . virginia opossums nest in brush piles , hallow trees and drainage areas . they can be found from near sea level to 3 , 000 meters in elevation .
( cuaron , et al . , 2012 ; hoffmeister , 2002 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; wright , et al . , 2012 )
( burnie , et al . , 2001 ; christiansen , 2006 ; gipson and kamler , 2001 ; hoffmeister , 2002 ; hossler , et al . , 1994 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; mcruer and jones , 2009 ; wright , et al . , 2012 )
marsupials engage in a polygynous mating system , in which males vie for reproductive females . male virginia opossums possess a sexually dimorphic scent gland on their chest , which emits a musky odor and stains their fur ; this is most commonly observed near the onset of the breeding season . females experience an approximately 29 . 5 day estrous cycle , upon entering estrous , breeding begins almost immediately . mating behavior is one of the only social behaviors displayed by virginia opossums , after mating ; females resume their aggressive , solitary disposition .
( christiansen , 2006 ; fernandes , et al . , 2010 ; holmes , 1992a ; mcmanus , 1974 )
( burnie , et al . , 2001 ; christiansen , 2006 ; feldhamer , et al . , 2007 ; hoffmeister , 2002 ; holmes , 1992b ; hossler , et al . , 1994 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; o ' connell , 2006 ; rademaker and cerqueira , 2006 )
breeding interval this species has 1 to 3 litters per year ; this varies based on a populations range .
breeding season the exact breeding season for this species varies based on a population’s range , in more northern climates they breed from february to september ; in ranges further south they breed from january to august .
virginia opossums invest little in parental care ; males provide no parental care , while females offer moderate care . after breeding , the female’s pouch takes on a brownish - orange hue and emits a musky odor due to scent glands located within ; this likely assists newborn opossums in finding their mothers pouch . while young are residing within , females are often observed licking at the pouch and their offspring . this practice led to the mistaken idea that virginia opossums breed with their noses and afterward , the young crawl from the female’s nostrils into her pouch . although a female with pouch - young may become very protective of her pouch , once her young are removed , females show little interest . female virginia opossums typically continue lactating for about 15 weeks , over which time , the composition of the milk becomes modified . most young virginia opossums become solitary after weaning , however , some may remain with their mother in their weaning den until they are about 120 days old .
virginia opossums have a fairly short lifespan ; wild individuals typically only survive about 1 . 5 to 2 years . early in life , young opossums have a very high mortality rate . many of these altricial young never arrive in their mothers pouch , afterward ; about 60 % of those who do reach the pouch will perish once they are weaned . among adult animals , the vast majority of deaths occurred during the cold season . although males typically only participate in breeding for one year , they are technically not semelparous because most ranges involve 2 to 3 breeding seasons per year . however , in one study , among approximately 12 , 000 trapped virginia opossums , no adult males were found . females may live slightly longer than their male counterparts ; however , they are no longer reproductively viable after 2 years of age . captive individuals typically have a longer lifespan ; they generally survive to be 3 to 4 years old ; however , there are reports of captive virginia opossums surviving until they are 8 to 10 years old .
( christiansen , 2006 ; gipson and kamler , 2001 ; harmon , et al . , 2005 ; hossler , et al . , 1994 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; mcruer and jones , 2009 ; o ' connell , 2006 ; woods ii and hellgren , 2003 )
( allen , et al . , 1985 ; cuaron , et al . , 2012 ; hoffmeister , 2002 ; hossler , et al . , 1994 ; kimble , 1997 ; ladine and kissell jr , 1994 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; mcruer and jones , 2009 )
the home range kept by virginia opossums varies greatly . this may depend on their range , their habitat , the availability of resources and their gender . in general , their home range size is thought to be about 12 . 5 to 38 . 8 hectares ; females generally have a smaller home range . a study conducted in georgia found that home range size may be between 7 . 2 to 94 . 4 hectares , a study in texas found home range sizes from 0 . 12 to 23 . 47 hectares ; likewise , home range sizes in urban environments averaged 18 . 8 hectares for females and 37 . 3 hectares for males . males are believed to keep larger home ranges because their reproductive success is based solely on their ability to find mates , whereas female success is based on the accessibility of food items . their home ranges are oval shaped and often overlap with a water source . virginia opossums were once considered a nomadic species but more recent research has shown that an individual maintains a fairly constant home range throughout their lifespan .
( allen , et al . , 1985 ; gehrt , et al . , 1997 ; gipson and kamler , 2001 ; harmon , et al . , 2005 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; o ' connell , 2006 ; wright , et al . , 2012 )
virginia opossums are extremely opportunistic feeders . these animals eat a variety of foods based on the season , their habitat and their range . their diets include vertebrates , invertebrates , plant material , fruits , grains and carrion . during the colder seasons , small vertebrates tend to make up a larger portion of their diet , whereas in the warmer seasons , they consume more invertebrates , plant material , fruits and seeds . stomach content analyses have been conducted on virginia opossums throughout the united states , generally their diet is composed of 14 to 27 % mammal tissues , 10 to 18 % fruits , seeds and bulbs , 6 to 11 % grasses and leaves , 3 to 13 . 5 % insects , 5 . 5 to 9 %
and 3 to 5 % birds . other food items were found more specific to an animal’s location and included up to 22 . 5 %
, 9 % pet food , 9 % garbage and up to 5 % carrion .
. this species may have a better chance of survival within more urban environments due partially to the lower predation risk .
( harmon , et al . , 2005 ; hossler , et al . , 1994 ; ladine and kissell jr , 1994 ; werner and vick , 1977 )
virginia opossums are opportunistic omnivorous feeders . they consume a variety of vertebrates , invertebrates , plant material and carrion . virginia opossums are important seed dispersers and redistribute undamaged seeds from the genera
, among others . these animals are also carriers for a wide variety of internal and external parasites . virginia opossums are known carriers of at least 24 internal and 13 external parasites . although they are not immune , it is unusual for this species to be a carrier of the rabies virus .
( baker , et al . , 1995 ; durden and nixon , 1990 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; mcruer and jones , 2009 ; monet - mendoza , et al . , 2005 ; rejmanek , et al . , 2009 ; willson , 1993 )
given the frequent urban habitation of virginia opossums , interaction with humans is almost inevitable . these animals are hunted for sport and food . some cultures believe that virginia opossums’ meat has medical properties . for instance , eating their meat in a soup is believed to help inflammation , colitis , gastritis and skin infections . likewise eating cooked virginia opossum meat is believed to prevent heart attacks , using an ointment composed of opossum fat is believed to treat epilepsy and infusing opossum bones in water is believe to treat allergies , dermatitis and coughing . virginia opossums’ pelts may also be sold commercially . although it is illegal in many states , virginia opossums are sometimes kept as pets . in such situations , these animals may be successfully litter trained and adapt to the diurnal lifestyle of their owners . obesity is common among captive virginia opossums .
( alonso - castro , et al . , 2011 ; cuaron , et al . , 2012 ; jacobo - salcedo , et al . , 2011 ; mcmanus , 1974 ; mcruer and jones , 2009 )
virginia opossums are often seen a pest species . stomach content analyses in portland , oregon found that as much as 9 % of an opossums diet was composed of garbage , likewise , another 9 % of their diet was pet food . virginia opossums are also seen as farm pests due to their proclivity for poultry .
( cuaron , et al . , 2012 ; mcruer and jones , 2009 )
virginia opossums are currently listed as a species of least concern according to the iucn red list of threatened species . this animal’s ability to adapt to human altered habitats has made it extremely successful and widespread . virginia opossums do not merely tolerate human settlements ; they flourish and have a greater survival rate near them .
( cuaron , et al . , 2012 ; harmon , et al . , 2005 ; wright , et al . , 2012 )
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
referring to animal species that have been transported to and established populations in regions outside of their natural range , usually through human action .
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water , often dominated by woody vegetation .
that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .
allen , c . , r . marchinton , w . maclentz . 1985 . movement , habitat use and denning of opossums in the georgia piedmont .
alonso - castro , a . , c . carranza - alvarez , j . maldonado - miranda , m . jacobo - salcedo , d . quezada - rivera , h . lorenzo - marquez , l . figueroa - zuniga , c . fernandez - galicia , n . rios - reyes , m . de leon - rubio , v . rodriguez - gallegoes , p . medellin - milan . 2011 . zootherapeutic practices in aquismon , san luis potos , mexico .
( on - line ) . iucn red list of threatened species . accessed may 02 , 2013 at
gehrt , s . , d . clark , e . fritzell . 1997 . population dynamics and ecology of virginia opossums in southern texas .
gipson , p . , j . kamler . 2001 . survival and home ranges of opossums in northeastern kansas .
holmes , d . 1992 . odor as cues for orientation to mothers by weaning virginia opossums .
hopkins , d . , r . forbes . 1980 . dietary patterns of the virginia opossum in an urban environment .
hossler , r . , j . mcaninch , j . harder . 1994 . maternal denning behavior and survival of juveniles in opossums in southeastern new york .
jacobo - salcedo , m . , a . alonso - castro , a . zarate - martinez . 2011 . folk medicinal use of fauna in mapimi , durango , mexico .
ladine , t . , r . kissell jr . 1994 . escape behavior of virginia opossums .
monet - mendoza , a . , d . osorio - sarabia , l . garcia - prieto . 2005 . helminthes of the virginia opossum (
woods ii , h . , e . hellgren . 2003 . seasonal changes in the physiology of male virginia opossums (
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justification : a widespread and common species throughout its range , this species is adaptable to human dominated landscapes . although hunted or trapped locally for food , sport and as predators of poultry , apparently the species has not been adversely affected by human settlement , in fact its range appears to be expanding . commercial hunting for the fur trade does not appear to have much impact .
this species is found in central america , from costa rica to mexico and in the united states east of the rocky mountains , and north into southwestern ontario , canada ( the northernmost locality reached by a marsupial ) . some introduced populations are also found along the west coast of the united states and recently into british columbia ( canada ) . their range , limited by winter temperatures and snow depth , appears to be expanding northwards ( gardner 2005 ) . this species can be found from lowlands to 3 , 000 m ( reid 1997 ) .
this species is found in a variety of habitats , ranging from relatively arid to mesic environments . they prefer wet areas , however , especially woodlands and thickets near streams and swamps . also in suburban areas . the opportunistic denning and feeding habits of the virginia opossum has led to the success of the species , especially in areas of habitat fragmentation . high reproductive potential further contributes to increasing population size ( mcmanus 1974 ) . abandoned burrows , buildings , hollow logs , and tree cavities are generally used for den sites .
although opossums were once important in the fur trade , this activity has apparently had little impact on the species ' population ( whitaker jr . and hamilton jr . , 1998 ) .
there are no major threats to this species . opossums are hunted and trapped for food and fur in certain areas of their range , but the mortality is mostly caused by collision with motor vehicles ( gardner 2005 ) .
there are no specific measures in place to protect the virginia opposum , as it likely occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range .
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astua de moraes , d . , lew , d . , costa , l . p . & pérez - hernandez , r .
justification : this species is listed as least concern because of its wide distribution , presumed large population , tolerance to habitat modification , occurrence in a number of protected areas and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category . although hunted or trapped locally for food , sport and as predators of poultry , the species does not appear to have been adversely affected by human settlement . commercial hunting for fur trade does not appear to have much impact .
the species is found from tamaulipas , mexico , and in cozumel and the yucatan peninsula , south to perú , bolivia , paraguay and northeastern argentina , including trinidad and the lesser antilles ( emmons and feer 1997 , eisenberg and redford 1999 , gardner 2008 ) . it can be found to about 2 , 000 m . a . s . l . ( eisenberg and redford 1999 , emmons and feer 1997 ) .
this species is common , and is hunted for meat only where other game is scarce ( emmons and feer 1997 ) . densities of 0 . 25 - 2 . 5 individuals per hectare are found in venezuela ( august 1984 , o ' connell 1979 ) , of 0 . 22 - 0 . 45 in french guiana ( atramentowicz 1986 , charles - dominique et al . 1981 , julien - laferriere 1991 ) and of 0 . 09 - 1 . 32 in panamá ( fleming 1972 ) .
this species is hunted only where other game is scarce ( emmons and feer 1997 ) .
there are no major threats known to this species . in suriname , it is collected for its meat which is illegally exported to french - guiana ( j . de bruin , in litt . ) .
astua de moraes , d . , lew , d . , costa , l . p . & pérez - hernandez , r . 2016 .
astua de moraes , d . , de la sancha , n . & costa , l .
justification : this species is listed as least concern because of its wide distribution , presumed large population , tolerance to habitat modification , occurrence in a number of protected areas and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category . although hunted or trapped locally for food , sport and as predators of poultry , this species does not appear to have been adversely affected by human settlement ( nowak 1999 ) . commercial hunting for the fur trade does not appear to have much impact .
this species occurs in coastal brazil from bahia to rio grande do sul , to east of the lower rio paraguay and northeastern argentina ( gardner 2008 ) .
this species is found in the atlantic and aracaria forests , living in primary and secondary forests . it is also found in forests that have been fragmented by urban development and deforestation ( grelle 2003 ) . it is a habitat generalist ( emmons and feer 1997 ) and often moves long distances ( gentile and cerqueira 1995 ) . the diet of d . aurita is omnivorous ( carvalho et al . 2005 ) . it is scansorial , nocturnal and solitary . it is mainly terrestrial , but its forelimbs and claws allow it to climb trees ( grelle 2003 ) .
this species is locally hunted for food and sport . it is also hunted for the commercial fur trade .
there are no major threats known , although deforestation effects some subpopulations ( e . g . eastern paraguay ) . although hunted or trapped locally for food , sport and as predators of poultry , this species does not appear to have been adversely affected by human settlement ( nowak 1999 ) . commercial hunting for the fur trade does not appear to have much impact .
astua de moraes , d . , de la sancha , n . & costa , l . 2015 .
at home on the ground and in the trees . opossums prefer forested habitats , but they are quite successful even in urban areas . they are active at night , year - round : in freezing weather , an unlucky opossum can lose its ear - tips and the end of its tail to frostbite . like all
, opossums give birth to tiny , undeveloped young . the embryos develop in the mother ' s womb for less than two weeks , then the newborn opossums crawl from the birth canal to the mother ' s pouch , where they fasten tight to a nipple . they stay there , attached to the nipple , for 55 or 60 days . a female opossum usually has 13 nipples , and litters are usually smaller than that , but a baby that cannot attach to a nipple dies . after about 60 days the young opossums leave the pouch , but they stay close to their mother—sometimes riding on her back when they are out at night—and nurse for another month or more .
sexual dimorphism : males are slightly larger and much heavier than females , with larger canine teeth .
kerr , r . , 1792 . the animal kingdom , or zoological system , of the celebrated sir charles linnaeus . class i . mammalia , p . 193 . london , 651 pp .
mammal species of the world ( opens in a new window ) . mammalian species , american society of mammalogists ' species account ( opens in a new window ) .
this page was last edited on 23 february 2018 , at 13 : 36 .
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banks , r . c . , r . w . mcdiarmid , and a . l . gardner
checklist of vertebrates of the united states , the u . s . territories , and canada
walker ' s mammals of the world , vol . 1 , 5th ed .
mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference , 2nd ed . , 3rd printing
mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference , 3rd ed . , vols . 1 & 2
disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
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yeo m 1 , acosta n , llewellyn m , sánchez h , adamson s , miles ga , lópez e , gonzález n , patterson js , gaunt mw , de arias ar , miles ma .
department of infectious and tropical diseases , london school of hygiene and tropical medicine , keppel street , london , uk . matthew . yeo @ urltoken
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henicopsaltria is a genus of cicada in the cryptotympanini tribe of the cicadinae subfamily .

four species have been described .

the razorgrinder ( henicopsaltria eydouxii ) is the type species .

henicopsaltria

no one has contributed data records for henicopsaltria yet . learn how to contribute .
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this page contains pictures and information about razor grinder cicadas that we found in the brisbane area , queensland , australia .
we found a lot of them in mt cotton during mid summer 2005 . they rested at the lower part of the tall trunk , about 1 . 5 meters to 3 meters from ground . they like to rest on the vary large gum tree trunk . when disturbed , they made some alert sound while flying away to another tree trunk .
large number of them were found singing on the same tree trunk . they produced very loud sound resemble metal grinding . the sound pitch rises a few second follows by a quick drop then repeated . those loud songs were quite painful to ear when standing under the trees .
the cicadas are dark brown to reddish brown in colour . there are dark zigzag patterns on front wings veins . the veins near wing edges are also dark in colour . the bottom side of abdomen is orange and dark brown in colours . males and females look similar .
they like to rest on very large tree trunks , especially smooth bark tree trunks .
we found one on the floor which is slow moving . when disturbed , it turned around and played dead .
forest need summit street around tingalpa reservoir on mid summer jan 2009 . a number of them can be found singing on large gum tree trunks .
in tamborine mountain appears in vast numbers at intervals of seven years . we did not found it is periodical unless this is happen in a small local area . we need more observations to confirm this .
- m . s . moulds australian museum , sydney , n . s . w . 2000 .
- moulds ms ( 1990 ) . new south wales university press , nsw . australia .
if you have images for this taxon that you would like to share with atlas of living australia , please upload using the upload tools .
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 44365705 - 1036 - 4115 - ac90 - 82fdade307ba
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 4c6ca33a - f0c8 - 4645 - 8726 - c879d110a653
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : bcc8e21b - 3122 - 4550 - 8729 - 5a56903d3528
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : e3dbfcc8 - 9f05 - 4910 - 979f - 4d976f42486b
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 82bc6a82 - 3985 - 43e3 - ab68 - 434141342c1c
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . name : 434117
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hyperolius wermuthi is a species of frog in the family hyperoliidae .

it is found in ivory coast , southern guinea , and liberia .

the correct name for this species is likely hyperolius soror .

it is so similar to hyperolius fusciventris that it has likely been overlooked elsewhere in west africa .

common name wermuth 's reed frog has been coined for this species .

hyperolius wermuthi

it is likely that hyperolius wermuthi is a synonym of this species ( schiøtz 1999 ) .
hyperolius wermuthi is a species of frog in the hyperoliidae family . it is found in ivory coast , guinea and liberia .
there have been no recent records , but it is presumably uncommon , as with hyperolius wermuthi , with which this species is presumably conspecific .
the call of hyperolius wermuthi is similar to that of h . f . fusciventris from the same areas , but apparently slower and higher pitched .
the hyperolius wermuthi is classified as near threatened ( nt ) , is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future .
rödel , m . - o . & schiøtz , a . 2004 . hyperolius wermuthi . 2006 iucn red list of threatened species . downloaded on 22 july 2007 .
note sur les hyperolius et quelques afrixalus ( saleintia ) du musée de berlin .
there is no information on threats to it , but as with h . wermuthi , agricultural expansion , logging , and encroaching human settlements are presumably all threats affecting it .
this species is very similar to h . fusciventris lamtoensis and h . wermuthi . it differs from the former by its translucent ventrum without traces of red marbling and the absence of dark lateral pigmentation . it differs from h . wermuthi by its white , not green ventral pigmentation , but should be compared critically with that species since the differences between them seem very small .
hyperolius wermuthi laurent , 1961 , rev . zool . bot . afr . , 64 : 71 - 72 . holotype : mnhnp , according to r . laurent in frost , 1985 , amph . species world : 219 . type locality :
boussou . . . , champ avec mare
, mont nimba , ivory coast .
this species is probably a synonym of hyperolius soror , which is known with certainty only from its type locality in southern guinea ( schiøtz 1999 ) .
schiøtz , a . & howell , k . 2004 . hyperolius minutissimus . 2006 iucn red list of threatened species . downloaded on 22 july 2007 .
schiøtz , a . & rödel , m . - o . 2004 . hyperolius laticeps . 2006 iucn red list of threatened species . downloaded on 22 july 2007 .
schiøtz , a . & rödel , m . - o . 2004 . hyperolius nienokouensis . 2006 iucn red list of threatened species . downloaded on 22 july 2007 .
schiøtz , a . & rödel , m . - o . 2004 . hyperolius soror . 2006 iucn red list of threatened species . downloaded on 22 july 2007 .
most similar to hyperolius fusciventris according to the original publication . see photograph , map , description of geographic range and habitat , and conservation status in stuart , hoffmann , chanson , cox , berridge , ramani , and young , 2008 , threatened amph . world : 286 . schiøtz , 1999 , treefrogs afr . : 110–111 , provided a brief account and considered the date of publication of the original to be 1999 . moreover this author regarded the call to be identical to that of hyperolius wermuthi , with which he thought it might eventually be found to be conspecific .
the males call from leaves and twigs . the voice is a high , shrill insect - like sound , shorter and lower that that of h . f . lamtoensis . the voice is very similar or identical to that of h . wermuthi .
hyperolius laticeps is a species of frog in the hyperoliidae family . it is endemic to togo . its natural habitats are rivers , swamps , freshwater marshes , and intermittent freshwater marshes .
since the name h . wermuthi has been used for all subsequent records , there is no specific information on the habitat and ecological requirements of this species , although it is presumably also found only in primary forest , where it breeds in swamps and small temporary ponds .
hyperolius soror is a species of frog in the hyperoliidae family . it is endemic to guinea . its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests , swamps , and intermittent freshwater marshes .
this species is not known from any protected areas , but if it is conspecific with h . wermuthi ( and further taxonomic research is required to resolve this ) then it is likely to be found in the mount nimba world heritage site , taï national park , and diécké classified forest .
this species is not known from any protected areas , but if it is conspecific with h . wermuthi ( and further taxonomic research is required to resolve this ) then it is likely to be found in the mount nimba world heritage site , ta national park , and dick classified forest .
this species is known only from southern guinea , liberia and western côte d’ivoire . it is so similar to hyperolius fusciventris that it might well be overlooked . it probably occurs up to over 1 , 000m asl on mount nimba .
this species is known only from southern guinea , liberia and western cte divoire . it is so similar to hyperolius fusciventris that it might well be overlooked . it probably occurs up to over 1 , 000m asl on mount nimba .
hyperolius nienokouensis is a species of frog in the hyperoliidae family . it is endemic to ivory coast . its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests , swamps , and intermittent freshwater marshes . it is threatened by habitat loss .
hyperolius minutissimus is a species of frog in the hyperoliidae family . it is endemic to tanzania . its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high - altitude grassland , swamps , and intermittent freshwater marshes . it is threatened by habitat loss .
this is a small hyperolius with a brown dorsum and broad light canthal and dorsolateral stripes that may be green or yellow . some individuals also have light spots on the legs and dorsum ( text from harper et al . , 2010 ) .
a small , compact hyperolius ( males 19 - 21 mm , females 23 mm ) from south - western côte divoire . dorsum translucent green , sometimes with fine black points . ventrum in both sexes translucent greyish white . discs green . no canthal stripe . pupil horizontal .
a small forest hyperolius ( males 18–23 mm , females 22–29 mm ) from western west africa , similar to h . fusciventris but phase j never with a dark vertebral line . in life phase f with red canthal stripe . no dark lateral pigmentation . ventrum transparent bluish green . pupil horizontal .
hyperolius nienokouensis rödel , 1998 , rev . fr . aquar . herpetol . , 25 : 124 . holotype : zfmk 65392 , by original designation . type locality :
south - western edge of tai national park , foot of mont niénokoué approximately 15 km west of guiroutou , 5° 25′ n , 7° 10′ w , ivory coast
.
a hyperolius from the savanna at high altitude in tanzania , with the males minute ( 12 - 17 mm ) , and the females medium - sized ( 18 - 24 mm ) . dorsum brown with light canthal and dorsolateral lines . gular flap smooth and very large . a few black spinosities present in front of the gular flap near the tip of the jaw . pupil horizontal . some females have broad light canthal , and irregular dorsolateral , stripes , and spots on dorsum .
but phase j never with a dark vertebral line . in life phase f with red canthal stripe . no dark lateral pigmentation . ventrum transparent bluish green . pupil horizontal .
, especially after preservation , but differs in a number of minor morphological characters and , in life , by its ventral coloration . furthermore
is a forest form , so although their ranges overlap they may not actually be sympatric . the correct name for this species may be
found in swamps in dense forest . only known from a small forested area in liberia and côte d’ivoire , but may have been overlooked elsewhere in west africa since it is so similar to
this species shows developmental changes in patterning , with two phases , j ( juveniles and many mature males ) and f ( mature females and some mature males ) . all newly metamorphosed individuals are phase j , which is normally brownish to green with paired light dorsolateral lines , or an hourglass pattern . all females , and some males , develop into phase f before the first breeding season . phase f is often colorful and variable , showing the diagnostic color characteristics for the species or subspecies . either well - defined morphs may be present , or graded variation .
> university of california , berkeley , ca , usa . accessed jul 9 , 2018 .
> university of california , berkeley , ca , usa . accessed 9 jul 2018 .
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frost , d . r . 2016 . amphibian species of the world : an online reference . version 6 . 0 ( 31 march 2016 ) . new york , usa . available at : urltoken .
justification : listed as near threatened because its extent of occurrence is probably not much greater than 20 , 000 km2 , and the extent and quality of its habitat are probably declining , thus making the species close to qualifying for vulnerable .
it is found only in primary forest , and breeds in swamps and small temporary ponds .
agricultural expansion , logging , and encroaching human settlements are threats affecting this species .
it occurs in several protected areas , including the mount nimba world heritage site , taï national park , and diécké classified forest . further taxonomic work is required to resolve the possibility that this species is a synonym of h . soror .
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wermuth ' s reed frog ( frank and ramus , 1995 , compl . guide scient . common names amph . rept . world : 68 ) .
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: 219 . type locality :
boussou . . . , champ avec mare
, mont nimba , ivory coast .
copyright © 1998 - 2013 , darrel frost and the american museum of natural history . all rights reserved .
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the type locality is n ' zérékoré in southern guinea ( chabanaud 1921 ) .
. the taxonomic validity of this species is uncertain . it may be the correct name for
chabanaud , p . ( 1921 ) . ' ' contribution a l ' etude de la faune herpetologique de l ' afrique occidentale . ' '
this species is known with certainty only from n ' zérékoré in southern guinea .
this species is known only from the poorly defined type locality of togo . no range map has been prepared for this species , since the type locality is not specific , and this is almost certainly not a valid species .
there is no information on its habitat and ecological requirements , but it presumably breeds in water .
listed as data deficient in view of continuing uncertainty as to its taxonomic validity as well as absence of recent information on its extent of occurrence , status and ecological requirements .
it has not been recorded from any protected areas . resolution of its taxonomic status is required asthis is almost certainly not a valid species .
this account was taken from
treefrogs of africa
by arne schiøtz with kind permission from edition chimaira publishers , frankfurt am main .
schiøtz , a . ( 1999 ) . treefrogs of africa . edition chimaira , frankfurt am main .
found in swamps in dense forest . only known from a small forested area in liberia and côte divoire , but may have been overlooked elsewhere in west africa since it is so similar to h . fusciventris .
schiã¸tz , a . ( 1999 ) . treefrogs of africa . edition chimaira , frankfurt am main .
listed as near threatened because its extent of occurrence is probably not much greater than 20 , 000 km2 , and the extent and quality of its habitat are probably declining , thus making the species close to qualifying for vulnerable .
it occurs in several protected areas , including the mount nimba world heritage site , ta national park , and dick classified forest . further taxonomic work is required to resolve the possibility that this species is a synonym of h . soror .
its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests , subtropical or tropical moist montane forests , swamps , and intermittent freshwater marshes . it is threatened by habitat loss and environmental damage .
this species is known only from two localities in south - western côte d’ivoire : the foot of mont niénokoué ( approximately 15km west of guiroutou ) on the south - western edge of taï national park ; and a nearby locality 30km to the north of this .
known from a single forest locality in tai n . p . , côte divoire .
it is found only in primary rainforest , and probably attaches eggs to leaves above shallow temporary ponds and swamps , where the larvae develop .
listed as endangered because its extent of occurrence is probably less than 5 , 000 km2 , it is known from a single location , and the quality and extent of its forest habitat in cote d ' ivoire is declining .
it is a very uncommon species . a visit to the type locality in 2002 was unsuccessful in locating the species .
it is presumably threatened by ongoing habitat loss for logging , agriculture and human settlements .
described by schiøtz ( 1999 ) as “a fast series of quiet , unmelodic clicks . ”
the tiny males may be confused with h . pictus metamorphs , but the latter typically have three distinct lines on the dorsum which h . minutissimus lacks . h . minutissimus is similar to h . spinigularis , but h . minutissimus lacks blue coloration and the males are substantially smaller than in h . spinigularis ( harper et al . , 2010 ) .
males range from 12–17 mm in snout - vent length , while females are larger , measuring 18–24 mm ( harper et al . , 2010 ) .
this species is found in open high - elevation grasslands and forest clearings at elevations above 1800 m ( harper et al . , 2010 ) .
breeds in temporary pools in grasslands ( harper et al . , 2010 ) .
listed as vulnerable because its extent of occurrence is probably less than 20 , 000 km2 , it is known from fewer than five locations , and the quality and extent of its montane grassland habitat in the udzungwa mountains and southern highlands of tanzania is declining .
it is rarely seen , but easily overlooked , and so perhaps not as rare as records suggest .
the call is a fast series of quiet , unmelodic clicks with an ill - defined frequency - intensity maximum at 4200 - 4300 cps .
its montane grassland habitat is threatened by afforestation , agricultural expansion , fire , and human settlement .
it has not been found in the udzungwa national park , though it might occur there .
the most remarkable feature of this species is the minute size of the males which are no larger than newly metamorphosed h . pictus , a sympatric species . the species is not well known and in some respects resembles h . spinigularis . it is possible they belong to the same complex .
this species is known only from southern tanzania , where it has been recorded from the udzungwa mountains and from the njombe area in the western part of the southern highlands . it has been suggested that it might occur in northern malawi , but recent surveys on mount rungwe , in southern tanzania , close to the malawi border , did not find this species . its altitudinal range is not recorded , but it is likely to be mainly above 1 , 800m asl .
collected on open , windswept grasslands in south - eastern tanzania . easily overlooked .
this species was named for the sankuru province of the democratic republic of congo where it was first discovered .
this species is known with certainty only from n ' zrkor in southern guinea .
chabanaud , p . ( 1921 ) . ' ' contribution a l ' etude de la faune herpetologique de l ' afrique occidentale . ' ' bulletin of the comitã© dâetudes historiques et scientifiques de lâafrique occidentale franã§aise , 1921 , 445 - 472 .
different sources may delimit this genus differently , and as new species are still being described , different number of species can be found . as of early 2015 ,
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taxon assessments are documents assessing the current status of a species , usually conservation status . for example , a regional conservation organization might use them to organize information and solicit feedback about the status of several threatened taxa in the region .
known only from tai national park and a locality 30 km to the north , southwestern ivory coast .
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