Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana (D. virginiana virginiana)
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Habitat
The Virginia Opossum is native to the southeastern United States, and was introduced into the West during the 1930s as a food source. The Virginia Opossum has been successful inhabiting the Pacific coast, and is expanding its range into Canada. It lives in a variety of habitats such as deciduous forests, prairies, marshes, swamps, farmlands, and even cities, and prefers areas near water. The Virginia Opossum is equally at home on the ground and in trees, and prefer dens in hollow logs, tree cavities, woodpiles, rock piles, crevices, under buildings, in attics, and in underground burrows left by other mammals. Opossums do not hibernate in winter, but will seek cover. In particularly cold weather, opossums can lose pieces of ears and tail to frostbite. |
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Didelphimorphia Family: Didelphidae Genus: Didelphis Species: virginiana Length: 13-37 in.
Tail Length: 8-19 in. Weight: 1-14 lbs. Lifespan: 2 years |
Adaptation
Virginia Opossums are solitary, nocturnal animals about the size of a cat, with a dull gray coat and a white face. They have long hairless tails and hairless ears and feet. Opossums have 50 teeth—more than any other North American mammal. They are opportunistic in both feeding and in choosing den sites, which makes them remarkably successful animals. Humans often see them rummaging through garbage cans, or as victims of traffic.
Opossums have prehensile tails, which can be used to grab branches and carry small objects. Contrary to popular belief, opossums do not hang by their tails to sleep. In addition to their dextrous tails, opossums also have opposable thumbs on their hind feet for climbing. Opossums have very small brains for their size.
Virginia Opossums can give birth to up to 25 babies, but more commonly have 7-8 young. Opossums are marsupials, which means that their young are not fully developed at birth. The babies are born after two weeks in the womb about the size of a honeybee, and climb into the mother's pouch to nurse. Opossums nurse their young with one of their thirteen nipples (arranged as twelve in a circle with one in the middle). They stay in the pouch to nurse for 60 days, and then spend the next 4-6 weeks on their mother's back. Most opossums have two litters per year.
A notable characteristic of the Virginia Opossum is its tendency to react to threats by "playing possum," or feigning death. The Opossum lies on one side, eyes open, tongue hanging out of its mouth, and emitting a green odorous fluid from its anus. This reaction is triggered by fear, appears to be involuntary, and can last up to four hours. Opossums can also react to threats by hissing, screeching, running, growling, belching, urinating, defecating, and showing teeth.
Virginia Opossums are solitary, nocturnal animals about the size of a cat, with a dull gray coat and a white face. They have long hairless tails and hairless ears and feet. Opossums have 50 teeth—more than any other North American mammal. They are opportunistic in both feeding and in choosing den sites, which makes them remarkably successful animals. Humans often see them rummaging through garbage cans, or as victims of traffic.
Opossums have prehensile tails, which can be used to grab branches and carry small objects. Contrary to popular belief, opossums do not hang by their tails to sleep. In addition to their dextrous tails, opossums also have opposable thumbs on their hind feet for climbing. Opossums have very small brains for their size.
Virginia Opossums can give birth to up to 25 babies, but more commonly have 7-8 young. Opossums are marsupials, which means that their young are not fully developed at birth. The babies are born after two weeks in the womb about the size of a honeybee, and climb into the mother's pouch to nurse. Opossums nurse their young with one of their thirteen nipples (arranged as twelve in a circle with one in the middle). They stay in the pouch to nurse for 60 days, and then spend the next 4-6 weeks on their mother's back. Most opossums have two litters per year.
A notable characteristic of the Virginia Opossum is its tendency to react to threats by "playing possum," or feigning death. The Opossum lies on one side, eyes open, tongue hanging out of its mouth, and emitting a green odorous fluid from its anus. This reaction is triggered by fear, appears to be involuntary, and can last up to four hours. Opossums can also react to threats by hissing, screeching, running, growling, belching, urinating, defecating, and showing teeth.
Niche
Virginia Opossums are opportunistic omnivores, and will eat almost anything they can find using their keen sense of smell. They have been known to eat fruits, vegetables, insects, rodents and other small mammals, birds, crustaceans, frogs, lizards, snakes, persimmons, snails, pet food, bird seed, bird eggs, worms, human garbage, and carrion.
The Virginia Opossum has a high resistance to snake venom. They are also resistant to rabies and Lyme disease, and rarely transmit diseases to humans. A fecal parasite carried by opossums can contaminate water and food sources for horses, and can transmit equine protozoal myelitis.
Known predators of the Virginia Opossum include foxes, coyotes, and owls. Human vehicles are also a common cause of mortality.
Virginia Opossums are opportunistic omnivores, and will eat almost anything they can find using their keen sense of smell. They have been known to eat fruits, vegetables, insects, rodents and other small mammals, birds, crustaceans, frogs, lizards, snakes, persimmons, snails, pet food, bird seed, bird eggs, worms, human garbage, and carrion.
The Virginia Opossum has a high resistance to snake venom. They are also resistant to rabies and Lyme disease, and rarely transmit diseases to humans. A fecal parasite carried by opossums can contaminate water and food sources for horses, and can transmit equine protozoal myelitis.
Known predators of the Virginia Opossum include foxes, coyotes, and owls. Human vehicles are also a common cause of mortality.
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