Big-eared opossum vs Polynesian rat

Didelphis aurita compared with Rattus exulans

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big-eared opossum	Polynesian rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Didelphidae	Muridae (Mice & Rats)
Genus	Didelphis	Rattus
Species	Didelphis aurita	Rattus exulans

Evolutionary Relationship

Big-eared opossum and Polynesian rat share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Big-eared opossum

LC — Least Concern

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big-eared opossum	Polynesian rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big-eared opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Polynesian rat

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (6 countries), Europe (United Kingdom), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (Chile).

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.