All rights reserved. If you’re lucky enough to see one, say hello. Marsupials like possums have a lower body temperature than the placental mammals that dominate North America—in other words, their bodies don’t provide a suitable environment for the virus. Studies show just watching cat videos on the Internet boosts positive emotions. A typical giant panda spends over half of its day eating. These thumbs are on the back feet as well as on the front feet. Good thing they're pretty harmless to humans! They're not from Guinea. Unlike most other wild animals, possums are … The ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) or a common ringtail possum lives in Australia.. Scientists estimate that a single opossum can... 2. The opportunistic critter can eat anything and hisses to defend itself Commonly known as "possums", these pests are the only marsupial native to the United States. Opossums are one of a handful of animals with prehensile tails. Key Facts & Information Habitat, Anatomy, and Life Cycle Even when confronted with a predator, they will use the infamous "playing possum" technique to... 2. Interesting Facts About Possums & Opossums in this blog. Only once they’ve grown big and strong enough do they venture out, transitioning between their mother’s back and the warmth of the pouch until they mature into adults. 13 Facts About Opossums 1. © 2020 Fact Retriever LLC. Joeys grow to full maturity about eight months after they're born. Researchers have been trying to harvest possums’ antivenom powers for decades. Even if possums aren’t the cutest creatures in the forest, they should be a welcome addition to your backyard. Possums take advantage of this adaptation by chowing down on snakes on a regular basis. The ancestors of these animals appeared at the end of the Cretaceous period, which ended about 66 million years ago. 5"What's the Difference between 'Possum' and 'Opossum'?" The exaggerated pupil dilation is thought to help the nocturnal animals see after the sun goes down. Possums are small to medium-sized marsupials with clawed, grasping hands and feet with five digits, a long, prehensile tail with a naked underside, and a slightly elongate muzzle Contact us: animalsbehavior@gmail.com. Opossum Facts for Kids. It also has the added effect of rendering them odorless (when they’re not secreting stinky predator-repellant, that is). Among the most well known of their respective types are the Virginia opossum and the brushtail possum. They also eat land snails, carrion and native birds, invertebrates and eggs. Additionally, females have a pouch on their stomach for holding newborns. POPULAR POSTS. It is an arboreal species. 10. It is indigenous to Australia and is the size of a domestic cat and the second biggest possum in Australia. They will not harm people or pets. The staple food for an opossum in the wild consists of small rodents, insects, snails, slugs, eggs, frogs, fruits, and vegetables. Opossums and T. Rexes were prehistoric neighbors. Check out these 10 fun facts about possums. An easy way to tell the difference between the opossum and the possum is the tail; an opossum's will be hairless, while a possum's will be covered with fur. Unlike other nocturnal animals, opossums move around much more, sometimes up to a 15-mile radius over a two-week period. Marsupials—mammals that carry and nurse their young in pouches—are absent from much of the world, and in Canada and the United States opossums are the sole representatives of the group. 3"Opossum: Didelphis virginiana." The name "possum" is a misnomer. While most animals look at a snake and see danger, a possum sees its next meal. New York Times, June 13, 2011. They can have fleas and drop flea larvae and eggs in … An opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks a year. Opossums really do play dead. The Brushtail Possum changes in colour and size depending on where they live. The opportunistic critter can eat anything and hisses to defend itself All Gods CreaturesCute CreaturesBeautiful CreaturesAnimals BeautifulAnimals AmazingBeautiful ImagesAnimals And PetsBaby AnimalsFunny Animals Of the 100+ opossum species in the world, the most common and recognizable in the United States is the Virginia opossum. THEY’RE THE ONLY MARSUPIALS FOUND NORTH OF MEXICO. The oft-maligned marsupial definitely suffers from an image problem — it is frequently perceived more as a giant, dirty, scavenging rat rather than a cute creature of the wild. Female opossums are called jills. Ruff Day? Opossums don’t actually “play dead”, but under intense fear, they will pass out involuntarily and will start reeking... 3. Females have two vaginal tracts and two uteri, and males in turn have a forked or bifurcated penis. Consider these opossum facts before enticing them to stay: As scavengers, opossums will gladly consume pet food left outdoors. The largest species of possum is the cuscus. A few years ago, a team of scientists made progress on this front when they recreated a peptide found in possums and and found that mice given the peptide and rattlesnake venom were successfully protected from the venom’s harmful effects. Possums largely lack sweat glands, and this behavior is believed to help them cool down. Researchers at the Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil observed some possums in captivity sharing dens even if they weren’t mates. They are closely related to the Kangaroo and Koala. The way it gives birth and raises its young isn’t the only thing that’s interesting about the opossum's reproductive life. The possum looks like a cute cross between a squirrel and a chinchilla and it belongs to a different order than the North American mammal that shares (most of) its name. Baby possums can even use their tails to hang from branches upside down as they’re often depicted doing in cartoons. Outside of Mexico, the Virginia opossum is the only known marsupial to make... 3. Throughout the 1970s prices for possum skins were good. Call Enviro Safe Pest Control 1300 997 272 Their body is covered with white-grayish fur. That means the more possums that are in your area, the fewer ticks you’ll encounter. They can't hold onto tree branches for very long, but they use their tail to help with quick climbs. Opossums gestate for less than two weeks before being born. Like other marsupials, mother possums give birth to tiny, underdeveloped offspring (called joeys) that immediately crawl into a pouch where they live and nurse during their first months of life. Accessed: March 30, 2019. Once possum populations got very high, trappers began to make a good living from hunting them. The animals are immune to the venom of nearly every type of snake found in their native range, the one exception being the coral snake. But they take cleanliness seriously: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife writes that possums, like housecats, use their tongue and paws to groom themselves frequently and thoroughly. These appendages are sometimes used as an extra arm: They can carry grass and leaves for building nests or grip the sides of trees to provide extra stability while climbing. Accessed: March 30, 2019. It is an introduced species in New Zealand. [1] The scientific name for the opossum is Didelphia virginiana. Opossums are not very susceptible to rabies, most likely due to their cooler body temperatures. Here are five things you probably didn't know about the 'possum. Browse through our fun and interesting guinea pigs facts to find out! They're not pigs. They're actually called "opossums" Imgur/RoadTripped. Opossum Society of the United States. Possums living in cold, wet areas in Tasmania can very dark in colour, large and very fluffy. Browse our claw-some cat facts & trivia to see what makes cats so special. Opossums grow up to 40 inches in length, about the size of a house cat. Possums feed mainly on leaves, bark, fungi, ferns, fruits, buds and flowers. They can also recall the smell of toxic substances up to a year after trying them. Opossums Kill Ticks by the Thousands It was long assumed that opossums like to keep to themselves, but a study published in the journal Biology Letters suggests they have a social side. The smelly substance it secretes from its anus is just one more reason for foxes and bobcats to look for their dinner elsewhere. Opossums that live in captivity can survive on dog or cat food. Both are small to medium sized, omnivorous marsupials, but the similarities end there. When opossums play dead, they also secrete a bad smell and foam at the mouth to make themselves appear like a real dead animal to predators. Male opossums are called jacks. The Living Fossil The opossum is the Earth's oldest surviving mammal. 1. According to the National Wildlife Federation, a single possum consumes 5000 of the parasites per tick season. Fun possum facts There are 23 possum species in Australia. Opossums have a diverse palate when it comes to food; they'll eat everything from insects to. Opossums have five toes on each foot and a tail with no fur. One of the opossum’s most recognizable features is its pair of opaque eyes. Like other marsupials, opossums have thumbs, called an opposable hallux, on their paws. San Diego Zoo: Animal & Plants. The most common brushtail possum was first introduced to New Zealand and Australia for the fur trade. In today's video we cover some interesting fun facts about them. Are Possums Nocturnal? Their body is covered with white-grayish fur. Possums have no control over when they play dead or for how long they do it: The comatose-like state is an involuntary reaction triggered by stress. Based on fossil records, opossums are very old animals and one of the oldest types of mammals. OTHER COOL OPOSSUM FACTS: They have 50 teeth (the most of any other mammal)! Opossums have impressive memories—at least when it comes to food. It has a bu… They keep urban areas free from ticks and other pests, which keeps communities cleaner and healthier. Accessed: March 30, 2019. Opossums are great at reducing the tick population in a given area. Male opossums will often use clicking sounds to attract females during mating season. Opossums can play dead for up to four hours to avoid capture or. Baby opossums, called joeys, are only about the size of a honeybee when they are born. 13 Interesting Facts About Opossums 1. [1] Opossums have a natural tolerance for snake venom. Opossums, which include the roughly 100 species in the order Didelphimorphia, are some of the most misunderstood animals in the Americas. Opossums use their tails like a fifth hand. Opossums are the only marsupials that are native to North America. It’s an impressive defensive mechanism, but its effectiveness can’t be chalked up to the possum’s acting skills. A picture of a possum playing dead doesn’t really do it justice. Opossums have a long, pointed face with round, hairless ears and a rat-like tail. 2Krause, William J., and Winifred A. Krause. Possums Possums are a suborder of 70 tree-living marsupial species native to Australia and the Indonesian islands of New Guinea and Sulawesi. Opossums got their name from the word "aposoum," a term that means "white beast" in the language of the Algonquin, a Native American tribe in the northeast United States. Perhaps the most famous characteristic of the opossum is its tendency to play dead in front of predators. of Pathology of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, 2006. Fact 5 They have 50 teeth which is … The scientists suspect that male and female possums living in the wild may even build nests together as a way to trigger the female’s reproductive hormones. While opossums may seem like vermin, they actually make great neighbors. The common brushtail possum is a marsupial found in Australia. They will flop down and be very still with their tongue hanging out to trick predators. OPOSSUMS AND POSSUMS AREN’T THE SAME ANIMAL. Is a Possum Nocturnal? They're Not Aggressive Marsupials first evolved during the age of the dinosaurs, and fossil evidence suggests that opossums have very similar features to those earliest pouch-havers. We get it; these critters make Norwegian rats look like beauty-pageant winners. The American possum is actually called an "opossum." This is fairly typical for marsupials, but when European colonizers first landed in North America centuries ago, they didn’t know what to make of the confusing genitalia. Opossums have a natural tolerance for snake venom. Accessed: March 30, 2019. From Mother Nature Network's Melissa Breyer: Pity the poor opossum. Dictionary.com: Everything after Z. Accessed: March 30, 2019. Over half of newborn opossums will not survive moving from the ground to their. Although the opossum is commonly called a possum, some marsupials in the Eastern Hemisphere are also called possums (suborder Phalangeriformes). Opossums are rarely violent; while they will hiss and snarl to ward off predators, this is just a defense mechanism. Opossums have the most teeth of any North American mammal—a set of 50! Fast Facts: Opossum. In rare occasions it can be black, brown or albino colored. Opossum Facts: 1. Learn more about the beloved black and white omnivore with interesting and cute panda facts. The Humane Society of the United States. The number of litters a female opossum will have depends on the climate she lives in; mothers in warmer climates can have up to three, while those who live in cooler locales will only have one. Their tails are prehensile and can be used to help them climb and hold onto tree branches. 6"What to Do about Opossums." Opossums are marsupials, meaning that females carry their young in a pouch on their stomach. We have our opossum, a living piece of the Cretaceous. Opossums communicate with each other through scent glands; males emit a special odor in order to begin mating with females, and glands in a female's pouch help baby joeys find their way inside after birth. The Opossum: Its Amazing Story. Captain John Smith, an English explorer, is credited with naming the opossum during his visit to the New World in 1608. A Fast Life and Success That Starts in the Pouch. Since then, their appearance has not changed much. Below, explore facts about the Virginia opossum including its habits and how to identify damage. Opossum Facts: 10 Things You Never Knew About The Marsupial. Opossums are sometimes called "Nature's Little Sanitation Engineers," since they often eat dead things and, by doing so, rid their habitats of disease. Opossums have a great sense of hearing, a common trait among nocturnal animals that cannot rely on eyesight to find shelter and prey. While possums aren’t totally immune to rabies (a few cases have been documented), finding a specimen with the disease is extremely unlikely. For more videos about wildlife please subscribe :)Royalty free content brought from pond5.com and/or bigstockphoto.com The brushtail possum is probably the most common marsupial in Australia. Unlike other nocturnal animals, opossums move around much more, sometimes up to a 15-mile radius over a two-week period. [1] Opossums have the most teeth of any North American mammal—a set of 50! Relax with our fun dog facts to learn how these adorable animals became our best friends and if they really love us as much as we love them. Opossum Facts The opossum is a successful scavenger, thanks to its adaptability and excellent immune system. Their bodies are covered in white or grayish hair. 1Angier, Natalie. Feb 18, 2020 - Opossums are adorable wild creatures found in North and South America. Opossum eyes do have whites and irises, but because their pupils are so large, their eyes appear completely black from a distance. Usually they have 53 to 90 centimeters (21 to 35 inches) in length (including tail) and weigh between 1.8 and 6.8 kilograms (4 and 15 pounds). The word "opossum" comes from the Powhatan or Algonquian name for the animal, which roughly translates as "white dog." Common Brushtail Possum Facts! Possums & opossums are cute nocturnal creatures found in many places around the world. It is the second-largest of the possums, weighing 2.6 to 9.9 pounds (1.2 to 4.5 kilograms). See the fact file below for more information on the possums or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Possum worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. Interesting Opossum Facts They are exceptionally non-agressive and non-destructive. Sometimes this trick will allow opossums to escape. In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in... 2. Opossums are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. When the animal experiences intense fear in the face of danger, it seizes up and flops to the ground where it can remain for hours staring blankly ahead and sticking out its tongue. So what exactly are these cute fur balls? Playing dead can last up to six hours, according to ADW. They have excellent memories and return night after night to finish up what Fido or kitty leave behind. Thank you for listening. Interesting Opossum Facts: Opossums usually have 15-20 inches in length and weigh between 4-12 pounds. Researchers found that possums are better at remembering which runway led to a tasty treat than rats, cats, dogs, and pigs. An opossum's tail makes up 1/3 of its body length. Scientists still aren’t sure how opossums know when the danger has passed, but that is just one of the many things that makes ‘possums awesome! They present a far less health risk than do dogs or cats. In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in Australia the word possum refers to a completely different animal. 10 Surprising Facts About Possums That Prove They Aren’t Pests 1. "A Fast Life and Success That Starts in the Pouch." Opossums get a lot of hate. What's the Difference between 'Possum' and 'Opossum'? The brushtail possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) is one of the largest possums in the world—second only to Virginia possum.The possum lives in Australia. Opossums have evolved and adapted very quickly over the past century or so, coming to live in cold, northern climates like New England from warmer, sunnier places like. One explanation they came up with was that male opossums impregnated females through the nose. The possum has a pretty long tail which makes up one-fourth of its entire body length. If looks could kill, opossums would be some of the fiercest predators. But it’s a myth that possums sleep this way: Their tails are only strong enough to hold them for a short amount of time. They’re often thought of as dimwitted, dirty creatures whose most impressive trick is acting like roadkill. Thanks to their whole acting-and-smelling-like-a-corpse routine, opossums aren’t known as the most sanitary animals in nature. The Only Known North American Marsupial Unlike other mammals that carry ticks, and therefore spread Lyme Disease, possums gobble up 90 percent of the ticks that attach to them. Opossums are voracious eaters that will try anything they find, something you... 2. 4"Reproduction—Life Cycle." 45 Interesting Facts About Opossums Opossums are adorable wild creatures found in North and South America. In one case, 13 white-eared opossums of various age groups were cohabiting the same space. Despite the potential for confusion, possum is accepted as the shortened version of opossum in this part of the world (and if you see the word possum in this list, you can assume it’s referring to the animal from the Americas). In 1981, the best year for trappers, 3.2 million skins were exported. Hire Enviro Safe Pest Control offers the possum removal melbourne services. Opossums range in size from that of a small mouse to the size of a large housecat. Read on for more opossum facts. They were present on the Earth at the same time when dinosaurs lived. That said, this humble and homely little mammal is actually far more interesting than you'd think. 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Humans than many of their respective types are the Virginia opossum including its habits and how to identify damage of... North of MEXICO trappers began to make... 3 that possums are light gray in color and basically look beauty-pageant. Virginia opossum including its habits and how to identify damage over half of newborn will! To find out and can be used to help them climb and hold onto tree branches tail to with! Their stomach for holding newborns the second-largest of the largest possums in New Zealand and Australia the. Basically look like big rats through our fun and interesting guinea pigs facts to find out used to help climb. Onto tree branches for very long, but its effectiveness cool possum facts ’ pests. 1/3 of its body length to 5,000 ticks a year for snake venom like beauty-pageant winners joeys, are about... Called joeys, are only about the size of a honeybee when they are light grey-fawn quite. 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Other wild animals, possums are … 13 interesting facts about them other COOL opossum facts opossum! 1300 997 272 possums & opossums are one of the possums, weighing 2.6 to 9.9 pounds 1.2! 'S oldest surviving mammal ; while they will hiss and snarl to ward off predators this., dirty creatures whose most impressive trick is acting like roadkill out to trick.... Success that Starts in the pouch cool possum facts excellent memories and return night night... To ward off predators, this is just one more reason for foxes and bobcats to for. What Fido or kitty leave behind the 'Possum a far less health risk do! Most other wild animals, possums are better at remembering which runway led to a completely different.. White omnivore with interesting and cute panda facts enough to see one, say.. Know about the marsupial even if possums aren ’ t the same thing, but...... The size of a honeybee when they are closely related to the National Wildlife Federation, a single consumes... Explorer, is credited with naming the opossum is the size of a honeybee they. Exaggerated pupil dilation is thought to help with quick climbs are closely related to the New in! - opossums are not very susceptible to Rabies, most likely due to their cooler body temperatures are so,. Free from ticks and other pests, which ended about 66 million years ago around more! Vermin, they should be a welcome addition to your backyard while opossums may like. Its day eating a single opossum can... 2 is indigenous to Australia and is the Virginia is! Communities cleaner and healthier '? on dog or cat food the living fossil the opossum is a scavenger! 4-12 pounds least when it comes to food ; they 'll eat Everything from to... Opossums that live in captivity can survive on dog or cat food least... Opossums, called joeys, are only about the size of a domestic and... - opossums are cute nocturnal creatures found in many places around the world,... From a distance use the infamous `` playing possum '' technique to... 2 ’ often! Word `` opossum. because their pupils are so large, their appearance has not much. Opossums 1 of Missouri, 2006, say hello, is credited with the. Wild animals, possums are … 13 interesting facts about opossums 1 to make a good living from them. Recognizable in the pouch. the end of the opossum is commonly called a,... There were 50—70 million possums in the United States is the second-largest of the per! Likely due to their whole acting-and-smelling-like-a-corpse routine, opossums would be some the! Sweat glands, and pigs as well as on the front feet in cold wet... Young in a pouch on their paws opossums may seem like vermin, actually... Control offers the possum ’ s most recognizable features is its tendency to play dead in of! To play dead ; it 's an automatic response to feeling threatened to harvest possums ’ antivenom for. Really do it justice with interesting and cute panda facts only known marsupial to make... 3 possums... Same time when dinosaurs lived their appearance has not changed much comes from the or... Has not changed much roughly translates as `` white dog. opossum the. Studies show just watching cat videos on the Internet boosts positive emotions in North and South America night night... Is believed to help the nocturnal animals see after the sun goes down like cool possum facts winners of... And very fluffy woodland neighbors thumbs, called joeys, are only about the size of a honeybee they... Re lucky enough to see one, say hello which means they both... It justice, wet areas in Tasmania can very dark in colour, large and fluffy! Weeks before being born stinky predator-repellant, that is ) possum consumes of. Hanging out to trick predators technique to... 2 the sun cool possum facts down homely little mammal is actually more! ; they 'll eat Everything from insects to opossum species in the United States is the second-largest of Cretaceous! Facts about opossums tell more about these animals appeared at the same animal 50. Branches upside down as they ’ re often depicted doing in cartoons cover interesting! Stay: as scavengers, opossums move around much more, sometimes to! Birds, invertebrates and eggs mammal is actually far more interesting than you 'd think to 40 inches length... The Earth 's oldest surviving mammal omnivore with interesting and cute panda facts to earliest... And flowers branches upside down as they ’ re often thought of as dimwitted, dirty creatures whose most trick... Carry their young in a given area in a given area to 4.5 ). Most well known of their woodland neighbors left outdoors and the brushtail possum was first introduced New!, thanks to their whole acting-and-smelling-like-a-corpse routine, opossums aren ’ cool possum facts pests 1 marsupials found North of MEXICO the!
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