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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Virginia
opossum, common opossum, possum |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Didelphimorphia |
| FAMILY: |
Didelphidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Didelphis
(two wombs) virginiana (originating from
Virginia) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Virginia opossum is gray or black with white-tipped
guard hairs and a long, pointed snout. The tail
slightly prehensile (grasping) and mostly hairless. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
609-914 mm (24-36 inches) |
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| WEIGHT: |
2.7-5.9
kg (6-13 lbs.) |
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| DIET: |
Omnivorous;
feeds on small vertebrates, carrion, invertebrates,
and plant matter |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts 13-14 days. The newborn young crawl into the
pouch at this time and remain in the pouch for 60
days. Mature females may have two litters per year. |
| NURSING
DURATION |
They
are weaned at abound 100 days. |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
1 year |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
2-3
years wild; 4-7 years managed |
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| RANGE: |
Costa
Rica north through Mexico and the central and eastern
half of the United States to southeastern Canada |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
in woodlands or thick brush, usually near water |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
The Virginia (or common) opossum is the only North
American marsupial. A marsupial is a mammal that
has a pouch where it carries its young. The young
opossums are not fully developed when they enter
the pouch. |
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| 2. |
Young opossums must spend the first two months of
their life in their mother's pouch. |
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| 3. |
Opossum is an Algonquin Indian name meaning "white
animal." The term "marsupial" comes
from the Latin word "marsupium," which
refers to the pouch where the young are carried. |
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| 4. |
From
prehistoric time to modern day, the opossum is virtually
unchanged. Some scientists refer to it as a living
fossil. |
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| 5. |
Opossums
are crepuscular and nocturnal, spending most of
this time searching for food. They have a keen sense
of smell and may also rely on touch to find food. |
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| 6. |
When
frightened or startled, opossums can feign death
(or 'play possum'). Curled up on the ground with
its mouth open and tongue hanging out, the opossum
appears dead. They may also release fecal matter
and release a green, foul-smelling mucus excreted
from its anal glands. Their breathing slows and
stays that way for a few minutes up to several hours.
During this display, they can be poked and prodded
or even bitten by another animal without giving
any signs of suffering. Playing possum may allow
these animals to escape predation since most predators
will not eat carrion or dead animals. Scientists
have yet to determine whether feigning death is
deliberate or an involuntary reaction. Some believe
chemicals are released into the brain and cause
a temporary coma, but recordings of brain activity
show that the opossum is in a highly alert state
while feigning death. |
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| 7. |
Opossums
have fifty razor sharp teeth; the highest number
of teeth found in any land mammal. |
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| Opossums
are scavengers, which makes them extremely important
to any habitat. By eating carrion, they lower the
risk of spreading disease in the area. |
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|
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| Grzimek,
Dr. Bernhard. Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals:
Vol. 1. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. New York,
1990. |
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Nowak, R. M. Walker's Mammals of the World: Volume
1, 5th Ed.; The Johns Hopkins University Press;
Baltimore and London, 1991. |
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West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Wonderful
West Virginia Magazine. http://www.wonderfulwv.com/archives/july00/fea2.cfm
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