Opossums (/ əˈpɒsəmz /) are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia (/ daɪˌdɛlfɪˈmɔːrfiə /) endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 126 species in 18 genera.

6 days ago · Over 70 million years ago dinosaurs roamed the Earth. While they are now extinct, one animal who shared the same land with the dinosaurs still exists today… the opossum. Despite its appearance, the opossum is not related to the rat.

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 eyes...

Jul 3, 2023 · Opossums, which include the roughly 100 species in the order Didelphimorphia, are some of the most misunderstood animals in the Americas. They’re often thought of as dimwitted, dirty creatures...

Opossums are small- to medium-sized, pouched (most of them) mammals, with pointed snouts and nearly hairless, prehensile tails. They are marsupials, like kangaroos and koalas.

Jan 25, 2024 · However, opossums are world-class tree climbers, with sharp claws, opposable thumbs on their hind feet, and a prehensile tail that helps them scale trunks and hang onto branches. In fact, opossums love trees so much that they often nest in tree hollows. The Indestructible Opossum?

Jun 10, 2022 · Opossums are small to medium-sized mammals that are commonly found in North and South America. They have a distinctive appearance that makes them easy to identify. Here are some characteristics that describe what opossums look like: 1. Size: Opossums typically range from 13 to 37 inches in length, including their long, hairless tail. 2.

Jan 3, 2022 · Opossums, sometimes called possum, benefit your garden by ridding it of small insects and pests. As omnivores, opossums consume a variety of foods. This includes the beetles, slugs, and snails that damage garden plants. These nocturnal creatures also consume plant matter. In general, the opossum prefers fallen or rotting vegetation to fresh.

There are several dozen different species of opossum, which are often called possums in North America. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal)...

opossum, any of slightly more than 100 species of New World marsupial mammals in the orders Didelphimorphia, Paucituberculata (see rat opossum), and Microbiotheria (see monito del monte). These marsupials, along with their relatives in Australasia, were formerly grouped together in the order Marsupialia (now a cohort including several orders).