Nature Field Guide
Water Opossum
- Spanish name
- Zorro de agua
- Scientific name
- Chironectes minimus
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
The water opossum, also called the yapok, is a marsupial adapted to life beside freshwater.
Species overview
About the Water Opossum
The water opossum, also called the yapok, is a marsupial adapted to life beside freshwater. Its silvery coat has striking dark bands, and its webbed hind feet help it swim. It searches for aquatic prey, including crustaceans, insects and frogs. Dens can be tucked into streambanks, where roots and vegetation provide cover. This secretive animal is mainly nocturnal, so finding suitable habitat does not mean you will see one. Keeping rivers clean protects both the opossum and the small animals it depends on for food.
Explorer activity: Draw a clean stream food web. Include one aquatic invertebrate, the water opossum and streamside plants.
Your discovery notes: Record the date, place and habitat. Add a sketch or a photograph taken from a distance. Write what you observed and one question you would like to investigate. If the species is uncertain, keep that uncertainty in your notes.
Identification
Key Features of the Water Opossum
Silvery gray coat crossed by broad dark markings.
Dark facial mask and a long mostly bare tail.
Webbed hind feet, best studied in reference photographs.
Habitat & range
Forested freshwater streams and associated riverbanks.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This is a country-level profile; it does not establish occurrence in every province, town or nature site.
When to observe
Mostly at night; observe only from a safe established trail with a guide.
Conservation & care
Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away. Stay clear of slippery or unstable banks; do not enter water to follow an animal.
Observation activity
Draw a clean stream food web. Include one aquatic invertebrate, the water opossum and streamside plants.