Opossum na kowa, wanda kuma aka sani da Virginia opossum, jinsin dabbobi masu shayarwa ne wanda ya fito daga Arewacin Amurka da Kudancin Amurka. Kalmar "opossum" ta samo asali ne daga harshen Algonquian kuma yana nufin "farar dabba." The common opossum is the only marsupial jinsunan da ake samu a Arewacin Amurka, kuma an santa da irin kamanni da halayenta. "yana nufin ƙarami, marsupial mai ko'ina wanda ke da dare kuma yana da wutsiya mara nauyi. Saboda haka, kalmar "opossum na kowa" gabaɗaya tana nufin mafi yaɗuwa kuma sanannun nau'in opossum, wanda ke samuwa a ko'ina cikin Arewacin Amurka da Kudancin Amirka.