Opossums are marsupials, like kangaroos, that live in North and South America. These mouse to cat sized creatures are able to eat just about anything and can take a bite from a venomous rattlesnake and live! Opossums are known for their ability to “play possum” a tactic that gives them the appearance, and smell, of death. When born, opossum babies, called joeys, are the size of a bee!
Scientific Name: Family – Didelphidae
Range: North and South America
Size: mouse to cat sized
Diet: just about anything!
Lifespan: 2 years
✨ Animal Fact Files Patreon Supporters get early access to videos, get their video requests moved to the top of our request list, and more! ✨
👉 https://www.patreon.com/animalfactfiles
You can learn more on:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/animalfactfiles
Facebook – https://facebook.com/animalfactfiles
—
Image and Video Credits:
Gary Bunker – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aavehi1H4i4
Kay Hudasch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-g1hDEkcag
My Wild Life – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DVWbtljFBA; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inKoRalLq8s
Robert Tragesser – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPleVMthZEk
jerry molaver – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsXXjY7PFmk; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvQInI76fI
Tony Alter – https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/38349001576; https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/6289425629; https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/8029288021
Dawn Pedersen – https://www.flickr.com/photos/paintedbydawn/34087423372; https://www.flickr.com/photos/paintedbydawn/33860371220
USFWS Midwest Region – https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmidwest/31273107963
stiregel – https://www.flickr.com/photos/50019407@N03/32263541274
BobMacInnes – https://www.flickr.com/photos/lonetown/7773262378
Greenmars – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Possum_rejects_bagel.webm
Andre de Souza Pereira – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cuica_verdadeira2.jpg
Ramon Campos – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marmosops_incanus.jpg
Dawson – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monodelphis_domestica.jpg
JJ Harrison – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trichosurus_vulpecula_1.jpg
Bruno Vienne – https://vimeo.com/89432038
William Warrior – https://vimeo.com/325222599
Jim Triezenberg – https://vimeo.com/401385876
Philadelphia Neighborhoods – https://vimeo.com/24217673
Danmation – https://vimeo.com/235548072
PapaJohn – https://vimeo.com/320646153
Michael A. Alcorn – https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/18735802
heyheymaimami – https://freesound.org/people/heyheymaimai/sounds/493066
Research Credits:
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=179919#null
https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Field_Guide_to_the_Mammals_of_Central/aBEbUaXTWYAC
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Wild_Mammals_of_Wisconsin/BYHbGHp6vuEC
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/didelphidae
https://nhpbs.org/wild/didelphidae.asp
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Didelphidae
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/understanding-rabies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZolo-lJMAc
“opossums” versus “possums”:
