Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of North and South America in the late Cenozoic. The Virginia opossum is …

Jun 19, 2017 · Not a fan of possums? Find out cute facts about possums that will change your mind about the animals.

Aug 8, 2024 · Possums, on the other hand, live in Australia and other countries. Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America as the “o” tends to …

Nov 20, 2024 · The Virginia opossum, the only species in the United States and Canada, is often referred to as possums regionally. However, as Europeans migrated to Australia, they borrowed this …

Jan 14, 2026 · The word opossum is based on the Algonquian word apasum, meaning “white animal”—in reference to the Virginia opossum of North America. Some Australasian marsupials also …

The opossum is a medium-sized mammal, about the size of a house cat, with gray to black fur, a pink nose, naked ears, and an almost hairless prehensile tail (able to grasp, hold, or wrap around). They …

Feb 18, 2026 · Opossums are North America's only marsupial (female has a pouch) mammal. They can have a litter of up to 20 but only half usually survive. They are the size of a cat; grey to black fur; …

Possums are a suborder of 70 tree-living marsupial species native to Australia and the Indonesian islands of New Guinea and Sulawesi. While their names are similar and both are marsupials,...

Opossums play a role in the ecosystem, consuming pests like insects, slugs, and snails. They are resistant to many diseases, including rabies, due to their lower body temperature, and also exhibit …

With a variety of names from “possum” to “grinner”, these little marsupials are both loved and hated by people. The opossum’s claim to fame is being the only naturally occurring marsupial in North …