Red Fox vs Zeledon’s Mouse Opossum

Vulpes vulpes compared with Marmosa zeledoni

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Red Fox	Zeledon’s Mouse Opossum
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Didelphidae
Genus	Vulpes (Foxes)	Marmosa
Species	Vulpes vulpes	Marmosa zeledoni

Evolutionary Relationship

Red Fox and Zeledon’s Mouse Opossum share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Red Fox

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Zeledon’s Mouse Opossum

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Red Fox	Zeledon’s Mouse Opossum
Diet	Omnivore	—
Average Lifespan	5 years	—
Average Length	70 cm	—
Average Weight	6.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Red Fox

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Cyprus, Israel), Europe (8 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Argentina).

Zeledon’s Mouse Opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Ecuador.

Red Fox

The most widespread wild carnivore on Earth, red foxes have colonized habitats from Arctic tundra to urban environments across the Northern Hemisphere and introduced ranges in Australia. Recognized by their russet coat, white belly, and bushy tail. Highly adaptable omnivores, red foxes eat everything from rabbits and voles to fruit and human refuse. They communicate with over 40 distinct vocalizations.