opossum
When people think of the pouched animals known as marsupials, Australian mammals such as koalas and kangaroos usually come to mind. One group of marsupials, however, is very common in the Americas—the opossums. Opossums—or possums, as they are sometimes called—belong to the scientific family Didelphidae.
Most species, or kinds, of opossums live in Central and South America. The only species found north of Mexico is the Virginia (or common) opossum. Opossums generally favor forested areas. The water opossum is the only marsupial to spend much of its time in the water.
Opossums are stout animals with a pointy snout, a pink nose, and beady black eyes. They range greatly in size. Some shrewlike opossums are only about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. The Virginia opossum is about the size of a house cat, growing to 40 inches (100 centimeters) in length. It has coarse fur that ranges from grayish white to nearly black in color. The hairless tail is about half of the animal's total length.
An opossum has five sharp-clawed toes on each front foot. The innermost toe on each hind foot is clawless, however. These toes are also notable because they face in the opposite direction of the other toes, just like human thumbs. They help an opossum to grasp branches.
Opossums often make their dens in hollow trees or under stumps and roots. They come out at night to eat. They are not fussy eaters and will dine on whatever they can find—insects, rodents, snails and slugs, berries, rotting fruit, and even dog food. Drivers who are unable to see opossums in the dark often kill animals scouting for food near roads.
Dogs, cats, owls, and people are among the creatures that kill opossums as food. When an opossum spots an enemy, it may try to keep it away by playing dead. The opossum will stiffen its muscles, stick out its tongue, and reduce its heart rate to almost nothing. When the enemy leaves, the opossum will get up and return to normal.
After a pregnancy of only 12 to 16 days, a female opossum gives birth to as many as 25 young. The tiny, blind babies claw their way into their mother's fur-lined pouch, where they nurse for many weeks. When they are too big for the pouch, the youngsters cling to the mother's back as she travels.
Wild opossums do not live very long. It is rare for one to make it past its second birthday. Opossums kept by people, however, have been known to live up to ten years.
