Opossum de Derby vs Lion d'Afrique

Caluromys derbianus compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Opossum de Derby is Least Concern while Lion d'Afrique is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Opossum de Derby	Lion d'Afrique
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)	Carnivora (carnivores)
Family	Didelphidae	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Caluromys	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Caluromys derbianus	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

Opossum de Derby and Lion d'Afrique share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mammifères)

Conservation Status

Opossum de Derby

LC — Least Concern

Lion d'Afrique

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Opossum de Derby	Lion d'Afrique
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	2.5 m
Average Weight	—	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Opossum de Derby

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Ecuador.

Lion d'Afrique

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Lion d'Afrique

The largest wild cat in Africa, lions reach up to 250 kg and are the only social felids, living in prides across sub-Saharan savannas and grasslands. Males are distinguished by their iconic manes. As apex predators, they regulate herbivore populations and maintain ecosystem balance. Listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador