common opossum vs jaguar

Didelphis marsupialis compared with Panthera onca

Key Differences

  • common opossum is Least Concern while jaguar is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank common opossum jaguar
Kingdom same Animalia (動物) Animalia (動物)
Phylum same Chordata (脊索動物) Chordata (脊索動物)
Class same Mammalia (哺乳類) Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia) Carnivora (ネコ目)
Family Didelphidae Felidae (Cats)
Genus Didelphis Panthera (Big Cats)
Species Didelphis marsupialis Panthera onca

Evolutionary Relationship

common opossum and jaguar share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (哺乳類)

Conservation Status

common opossum

LC — Least Concern

jaguar

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~64.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute common opossum jaguar
Diet Carnivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 1.9 m
Average Weight 100.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

common opossum

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Found across North America (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia) and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

jaguar

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

common opossum

<em>Didelphis marsupialis</em> is a medium-sized marsupial in the family Didelphidae, widely distributed across the Neotropical region, including Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. It inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, often occurring near human settlements, gardens, and agricultural edges across lowland and montane zones. As a generalist omnivore, this species typically consumes fruits, invertebrates, small vertebrates, carrion, and refuse, making it one of the most adaptable mammals in its range. The common opossum is nocturnal and arboreal, using a prehensile tail for balance and grip while foraging in trees and shrubs. Females give birth to highly altricial young that develop in the marsupium, a defining trait of marsupial reproduction. The IUCN currently classifies this species as Least Concern, reflecting its broad distribution, behavioral flexibility, and tolerance of disturbed habitats. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body length, and body weight are not consistently recorded across populations in standardized databases, and detailed dietary studies remain poorly documented at scale. Its ecological role includes seed dispersal and control of invertebrate populations.

jaguar

アメリカ大陸最大のネコ科動物で、体重は最大100kgに達し、がっしりとした筋肉質の体型と特有のロゼット模様の毛皮を持つ。メキシコから南アメリカにかけて分布し、アマゾンやパンタナルが主要生息地となる。優れた水泳能力を持つ頂点捕食者であり、獲物個体数の調節に重要な役割を担う。森林破壊により生息域が縮小し、準絶滅危惧に分類されている。

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

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