Big-eared opossum vs Common maple aphid

Didelphis aurita compared with Periphyllus testudinaceus

Key Differences

• Big-eared opossum is Least Concern while Common maple aphid is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big-eared opossum	Common maple aphid
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)
Family	Didelphidae	Aphididae
Genus	Didelphis	Periphyllus
Species	Didelphis aurita	Periphyllus testudinaceus

Evolutionary Relationship

Big-eared opossum and Common maple aphid share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Big-eared opossum

LC — Least Concern

Common maple aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big-eared opossum	Common maple aphid
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big-eared opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common maple aphid

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Big-eared opossum

The Big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita) is a species in the genus Didelphis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common maple aphid

<em>Periphyllus testudinaceus</em>, the common maple aphid, is a small sap-sucking insect in the family Aphididae, associated primarily with maple trees of the genus Acer. It is recorded from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. This species has not been formally evaluated for IUCN conservation status. The common maple aphid typically forms colonies on the undersides of maple leaves and along young shoots, feeding on phloem sap and potentially causing leaf curling, discoloration, and reduced tree vigor in heavy infestations. Like many aphid species, it produces honeydew as a metabolic byproduct, which attracts ants that may protect the aphid colonies in exchange. The species exhibits complex life cycles that can involve both sexual and asexual reproduction across seasons. Biological traits including body size, average lifespan, and precise dietary specializations beyond maple sap feeding remain incompletely documented. The common maple aphid is part of the broader community of invertebrates dependent on maple trees across temperate Northern Hemisphere regions.