10 Different Types of Possums

The words possum and opossum are used interchangeably but they refer to different animals. Scientists and most dictionaries say an opossum is the Virginia opossum or any of those that live in North or South America. The possum is a very similar animal that lives in Australia and New Guinea.

It is not really that simple though. In both countries, people pronounce it “possum” and sometimes use it in writing with or without the “O” at the beginning. Both countries could then lay a claim to either one.

It is popular to write “opossum,” and drop the “O” when speaking in both countries.

They are all marsupials. There are dozens of species on opposite sides of the world. For this article, we are going to focus on the opossum of the Americas.

What is called the Virginia Opossum is the only species of this marsupial that lives in the United States. There are a few dozen species that live in Central and South America. The Opossum that lives in the United States is the size of a cat.

These animals evolved in the Americas and in Australia, but not on other continents. Many of them are small and are called mouse varieties. They are one of the earth’s oldest mammals, according to evolutionary science.

1. Virginia Opossum

The Virginia Opossum is found in most of the United States, with the exception being the Rocky Mountains, and they are expanding their territory slowly.  Before Europeans arrived, they were known only in Kentucky and Indiana. They were hunted for fur, and later for food, especially in the south. The Virginia Opossum likes to live near water, in the woods, or in thickets.

They are adaptable though and can live in areas where humans have altered the landscape. Some live in towns and suburbs. The Virginia Opossum is one of the larger marsupials but is still only around 12-13 pounds when fully grown, and about 21 inches long.

They reproduce a lot, so hunting and even loss of habitat have not hurt their population.  They have a short lifespan, normally living just two … Read the rest of the story.

from Nature Nibble https://ift.tt/Y6dx8rH