Dideles

Dideles is a term that appears in historical and taxonomic literature but does not correspond to a currently recognized genus in modern classification. In some older scientific writings, Dideles was used as a genus name, particularly in the context of marsupial-like forms, but it has not persisted as a valid taxon in contemporary databases.

Taxonomic status and usage have varied over time. Today, the opossums of the Americas are placed in the genus Didelphis, within the family Didelphidae, and the broader groupings of marsupials are organized under more stable genera and higher categories. When Dideles appeared in older texts, it was often superseded or clarified as taxonomic understanding advanced, and any species once associated with Dideles would have been reassigned to other, valid genera.

Etymology and meaning are typically linked to root elements that convey a sense of two or double, a pattern common in terms describing didelphous or two-hooded/paired features in mammals. However, because Dideles is not part of current accepted nomenclature, its precise linguistic derivation in taxonomic use is largely historical and not standardized in present-day references.

In contemporary references, Dideles is not listed as a valid genus. Researchers seeking current classifications should consult authoritative sources such as the ITIS taxonomy database, the NCBI taxonomy browser, and Mammal Species of the World for up-to-date genus and species names within Didelphidae and related marsupial groups.