Opossum

opossumbg: OpossumCOMMON NAME: Opossum

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Didelphis marsupialis

DESCRIPTION:

This marsupial, or pouched mammal resembles a large rat. It has a long pointed nose, large ears and is covered with long course hair that is gray mixed with white in color. The opossum can grow to 3 feet (.9 meter) in length including its 10 inch (25 cm) long, scaly, prehensile tail, and may weigh up to 14 pounds (6.3 kg). There are 5 toes on each foot. Each foot is like a hand with the great toes much like the thumbs in man, being opposable for grasping.

Like the kangaroo, the female opossum has a pouch. When the young are born they are about the size of a wasp. They migrate, on their own, two or three inches to the mother?s pouch. Here, they must become attached to one of the mammary glands, remaining there for 50 - 60 days. As their size increases, they become crowded and leave the pouch to ride on the their mother?s back. As many as 25 are born but only 8 - 9 survive.

LIFE HISTORY:

Life Span: 1.3 years or less in the wild; 3 - 5 years in captivity

Mating Season: January to February and June to July

Gestation Period: 12.5 to 13 days

Litter Size: 6 to 25

Litter per year: 2

ECOLOGY:

Habitat: Opossums inhabit moist woodlands and brushy habitats at low elevations. Preferred habitats: riparian, moist woodlands, brushy habitats, wetlands, agricultural areas, and residential areas that provide abundant food and cover. Dense conifer forests and grasslands do not seem to support large numbers.

Niche: The opossum is omnivorous; eating fruits, berries, grains, green vegetation, earthworms, insects, eggs, frogs, and small mammals such as

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