didelphous

Didelphous is an anatomical term used to describe organisms that possess two uteri or two uterine horns. The word derives from Greek di- meaning two and delphos meaning womb, and it is most commonly encountered in mammalian anatomy, particularly in reference to marsupials.

In a didelphous reproductive system, the two uterine structures are paired and may connect to the reproductive tract in slightly different ways depending on the species. The term is typically used in contrast to monodelphous (having a single uterus) or to other uterine arrangements described in different mammalian groups, such as bicornuate or duplex uterus configurations.

Didelphous is sometimes treated as synonymous with didelphic in the literature, though some authors retain a distinction based on subtle structural descriptions. While the term is widely applicable in general anatomy, it is most strongly associated with marsupial biology, where the paired reproductive tract is a characteristic feature.

Examples in biological discussion often include marsupials, such as opossums and other related species, where the didelphous pattern is a defining aspect of their reproductive anatomy. The term is primarily descriptive and is used to aid comparative and evolutionary discussions of reproductive morphology across mammals.