Black-shouldered Opossum vs Cuetzalan Salamander

Caluromysiops irrupta compared with Aquiloeurycea quetzalanensis

Key Differences

• Black-shouldered Opossum is Least Concern while Cuetzalan Salamander is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-shouldered Opossum	Cuetzalan Salamander
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)	Caudata (Caudata)
Family	Didelphidae	Plethodontidae
Genus	Caluromysiops	Aquiloeurycea
Species	Caluromysiops irrupta	Aquiloeurycea quetzalanensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-shouldered Opossum and Cuetzalan Salamander share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Black-shouldered Opossum

LC — Least Concern

Cuetzalan Salamander

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-shouldered Opossum	Cuetzalan Salamander
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-shouldered Opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Cuetzalan Salamander

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Black-shouldered Opossum

The Black-shouldered Opossum (Caluromysiops irrupta) is a species in the genus Caluromysiops. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.