Andean Poison Frog vs common opossum

Andinobates opisthomelas compared with Didelphis marsupialis

Key Differences

• Andean Poison Frog is Vulnerable while common opossum is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Andean Poison Frog	common opossum
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Amphibia (Amphibians)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Anura (Frogs & Toads)	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)
Family	Dendrobatidae (Poison Dart Frogs)	Didelphidae
Genus	Andinobates	Didelphis
Species	Andinobates opisthomelas	Didelphis marsupialis

Evolutionary Relationship

Andean Poison Frog and common opossum share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Andean Poison Frog

VU — Vulnerable

common opossum

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Andean Poison Frog	common opossum
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Andean Poison Frog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in Colombia. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

common opossum

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Found across North America (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia) and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Andean Poison Frog

The Andean Poison Frog (Andinobates opisthomelas) is a species in the genus Andinobates. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

common opossum

<em>Didelphis marsupialis</em> is a medium-sized marsupial in the family Didelphidae, widely distributed across the Neotropical region, including Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. It inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, often occurring near human settlements, gardens, and agricultural edges across lowland and montane zones. As a generalist omnivore, this species typically consumes fruits, invertebrates, small vertebrates, carrion, and refuse, making it one of the most adaptable mammals in its range. The common opossum is nocturnal and arboreal, using a prehensile tail for balance and grip while foraging in trees and shrubs. Females give birth to highly altricial young that develop in the marsupium, a defining trait of marsupial reproduction. The IUCN currently classifies this species as Least Concern, reflecting its broad distribution, behavioral flexibility, and tolerance of disturbed habitats. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body length, and body weight are not consistently recorded across populations in standardized databases, and detailed dietary studies remain poorly documented at scale. Its ecological role includes seed dispersal and control of invertebrate populations.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia