Did you Know? List of Facts about Opossums aka Possums
Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about Opossums, trivia and information, including some useful statistics about animals will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults. Interesting Facts about Opossums are as follows: - Fact 1 - Definition: The opossum is an American marsupial often referred to as a possum. The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana. It has a white face and fur that is loose, grayish and white-tipped and a scaly tail
- Fact 2 - Several related species of Opossums are found in South America. The water opossum of Brazil (Chironectes variegatus), which has the hind feet, webbed, is provided with a marsupial pouch and with cheek pouches. It is called also yapock.
- Fact 3 - The opossum looks like a Rat but is not related with them
- Fact 4 - A nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail. A prehensile tail is adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object
- Fact 5 - Arboreal refers to their movement in trees which include moving on narrow branches, moving up and down inclines, balancing, crossing gaps and dealing with obstructions. Swinging from one branch to another is called brachiating
- Fact 6 - Opossums are extremely clean and often groom themselves
- Fact 7 - The babies of Opossums are as small as honeybees
- Fact 8 - Opossums stats and facts
- Weight: 4-6 kg
- Length: 2.5 ft
- Habitat: Forest, farmland, grassland, urban and suburban areas, near water
- Lifespan: 2 to 4 years
- Diet: Opossums aka Possums are Omnivorous
- Fact 9 - Opossums generally live in the holes of the trees
- Fact 10 - Opossums are usually solitary and nomadic
- Fact 11 - Opossums are marsupials. A marsupial is a mammal of which the female has a pouch in which it rears its young, which are born immature
- Fact 12 - Marsupials include the:
- Fact 13 - When threatened they will "play possum", mimicking the appearance and smell of a dead animal
- Fact 14 - The Virginia Opossum was once widely hunted and consumed in the United States
- Fact 15 - The collective name for Opossums is a troop
- Fact 16 - Male Opossums are called Jack
- Fact 17 - Female Opossums are called Jill
- Fact 18 - The names given to babies are Joey
Facts about the Opossums aka Possums - Scientific Names / Classification
Scientific Names / Classification of Opossums - The scientists who study animals (zoology) are called zoologists. Each animal that is studied is classified, that is, split into descriptive groups starting with main groups (vertebrates and invertebrates) the Families of animals are also included and the families are then split into species. These various scientific facts about Opossums aka Possums are as follows: - Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Facts about Opossums aka Possums
We have included a selection of trivia and interesting facts about Opossums which we hope will be of help with homework. Most of these interesting facts about Opossums are quite amazing and some are little known pieces of trivia and facts! Many of these interesting pieces of animal information and fun facts about Opossums and info will help you increase your knowledge on the subject of animals and Opossums. |
