Didelphid

/daɪˈdɛlfɪd/ noun, adjective

Definition

A member of the marsupial family Didelphidae, particularly opossums and related species; or as an adjective, relating to this family.

Etymology

From 'Didelphis' (the genus) plus the suffix '-id,' used in taxonomy to create family member nouns and adjectives.

Kelly Says

The suffix '-id' in taxonomy creates a personal-sounding noun—a didelphid is like a 'member of the didelph club'—making it easier to talk about family relationships in nature by turning Latin categories into countable beings!

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