Difference between Opossum and Phalanger

What is the difference between Opossum and Phalanger?

Opossum as a noun is any american marsupial of the genera didelphys and chironectes. the common species of the united states is didelphys virginiana. while Phalanger as a noun is an arboreal marsupial of the family phalangeridae, native to australia.

We hope you now know whether to use Opossum or Phalanger in your sentence.