The family Didelphidae comprises the opossums, the largest family of marsupials in the Americas. These mammals are primarily nocturnal and omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. Didelphids are characterized by a prehensile tail, a marsupium (pouch) for carrying young in some species, and a generally adaptable lifestyle, allowing them to inhabit forests, grasslands, and even urban areas. They play important ecological roles as seed dispersers and insect controllers. Most species have a relatively short lifespan, high reproductive output, and show opportunistic behaviors that enable them to survive in diverse and changing environments across North, Central, and South America.