Fauna
Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219955

Water Opossum

Chironectes minimus

Also known as Yapok

Water opossums navigate fast-flowing tropical streams using dense, water-repellent fur and broad, webbed hind feet. Females possess a specialized muscular sphincter that seals their pouch watertight, shielding altricial young even during extended underwater dives. Males also possess a unique pouch used to enclose and protect their external genitalia while swimming and foraging along rocky river bottoms.

SemiaquaticNocturnalCarnivore
Water Opossum reference1 / 4
Licensed referenceEnrique González / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Freshwater Crabs
  • River Shrimp
  • Small Fish
Predators
  • Boa Constrictor
  • Ocelot
  • Spectacled Caiman
ThreatsRiver pollution, siltation, deforestation, and freshwater habitat disruption
HabitatsClear, fast-flowing freshwater streams, rivers, and lake margins in tropical rainforests
Life span3–5 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyDidelphidae
  2. SpeciesChironectes minimus
Range & activity
Native
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Can inflict a defensive bite if cornered or handled; observe quietly from the stream bank.
Why it is dangerous
Possesses sharp teeth and claws capable of delivering painful punctures and lacerations if restrained.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by striking broad black-and-grey saddle bands, fully webbed pink hind feet, and hairless tail.
What to do
Maintain distance along stream banks and never attempt to net or grasp animals in the water.
Responsible observation
  • Night Spotting: Scan clear forest streams with a red light, watching for rhythmic surface ripples.
  • Stream Bank Caution: Avoid trampling undercut riverbanks where daytime nesting burrows are concealed.
Related species
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