Opossums are often considered to be "living fossils", [9] and as a result they are often used to approximate the ancestral therian condition in comparative studies. [9][10] But the oldest opossum …

Jun 19, 2017 · Contrary to popular belief, having possums nearby can actually be beneficial! Sure, they can admittedly be pretty jarring to look at — especially when you shine a light at them and make their...

Nov 20, 2024 · What are opossums. Are they dangerous. Where & how long do they live. What do they eat. Learn their size, skeleton, predators, sounds, & their differences with possum.

Jun 30, 2024 · There are many kinds of possum, but the Virginia opossum is the only variety of opossum. The familiar opossum behavior of “playing dead” is not characteristic of possum species.

Aug 8, 2024 · Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America as the “o” tends to be silent in everyday speech. An opossum (left) and a possum (right).

Nov 14, 2025 · Despite its appearance, the opossum is not related to the rat. In fact, the opossum is a marsupial, or “pouched” mammal, and is therefore related to other marsupials such as the kangaroo …

Oct 10, 2025 · Opossums have adapted to a variety of habitats, but, being largely arboreal, they are absent from treeless dry areas. Their dens are often found in a hollow tree or under stumps and roots.

Jul 24, 2025 · True possums are marsupials native to Australia and nearby islands, belonging to the suborder Phalangeriformes. These arboreal creatures have evolved specifically for life in trees, with …

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,...

Diverse and broadly distributed opossums are North America's contribution to the marsupial family. The various types of opossums, from the classic Virginia variety to the semi-aquatic kind from Central …