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Glite Dictionary
Didelphis marsupialis

Didelphis marsupialis

9.9
A small animal called an opossum that eats many kinds of food and often plays dead when scared
  • noun
  • /ˈdɪdəlfɪs mɑrˈsuːpiəlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Didelphis marsupialis
  • When threatened, Didelphis marsupialis is known to play dead, a tactic called thanatosis.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the diet of Didelphis marsupialis in both rural and urban habitats.

  • The Didelphis marsupialis is often found near suburban areas where food is abundant.

  • The Didelphis marsupialis is often found in urban areas.

  • Have you ever seen a Didelphis marsupialis in the wild?

  • Researchers studied the diet of Didelphis marsupialis in both rural and urban habitats.

  • The Didelphis marsupialis often scours the garbage for food in suburban neighborhoods.

  • When threatened, the Didelphis marsupialis feigns death to avoid predators.

Synonyms

common opossum
vsDidelphis marsupialis
  • US
5.5

A medium-sized mammal from the Americas that carries its young in a pouch and plays dead when threatened

is the scientific species description without mentioning culinary use

Surface Forms

Didelphis marsupialis singular
Didelphis marsupialises plural

Morphology

Didelphis + marsupialis

This is a Latin binomial (genus + specific epithet): if a learner knows 'Didelphis' as a genus of marsupials and can relate 'marsupialis' to 'marsupial' they can infer it denotes a species of marsupial/opossum. However, taxonomic names are technical and do not convey the full encyclopedic details (range, behavior), and the species epithet is not a common English word, so the meaning is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Didelphis marsupialis comes from old Greek and Latin words: Didelphis means 'two wombs' and marsupialis means 'pouch'. That picture of an animal with a pouch for its babies helps you remember this name is for an opossum, a marsupial that carries its young in a pouch.