Classification
View: Opossum
Family: Opossumy
Order: Didelphimorphia
Class: Mammals
Type: Chordates
Subtype: Vertebrates
Dimensions: The length of the animal – 15-45 cm; weight – from 0.5 to 6 kg
Life span: 2 to 7 years
Possum is the only North American marsupial to animals. He has a pocket in which he carries his cubs.
Like a desman, from prehistoric times to Today, the view has not changed.
Some scientists regard it as a living fossil.
Opossums live throughout the United States. They are found in southern Canada, North America (Argentina) and South (Chile), in Mexico
Content
- 1 Habitat
- 2 Characteristic
- 3 Appearance
- 4 Key Features
- 5 Nutrition
- 6 Behavior, reproduction
- 7 Relations with people
Habitat
Opossums live throughout the United States. They are found in southern Canada, North America (Argentina) and South (Chile), in Mexico.
Unobtrusive biology, flexible diet and reproductive strategy made them successful colonizers and left alive in restless time.
Not to be confused with other marsupials, like sugar possum (or sugar marsupial flying squirrel), which lives in Australia.
Originally a native of the eastern United States, the possum appeared in the west during the Great Depression, probably in as a food source.
Its range is steadily expanding north. Animals inhabit areas of meadows, agricultural land and Forestlands of North America.
He is also seen in urban areas, as a rule, which are close to the water where it feeds on garbage.
Interesting! The possum was first described in early 1565 in a published letter to Dr. Edward Tyson from Mr. William Cooper, a healer and member of the Royal Society in London
Cross-eyed possum
Characteristic
More than 17 genera and 60 species of this animal are known. Among them: fluffy, watery, graceful, thick-tailed possums and others.
Opossums are fun medium sized mammals reaching sizes big cat
Appearance
Opossums, photo confirmation of this, are funny averages mammals reaching the size of a big cat.
They have a whitish-gray fur, sometimes black and white with different light and dark stripes.
Head and throat are white. Short paws, long pointed muzzle, sly bead eyes, long tenacious tail and sharp claws. The female has a bag.
Moderate sexual dimorphism is observed: males are slightly larger females. The male has a bifurcated penis, the female has a bifurcated penis vagina.
Opossums climb trees, but contrary to a common myth, can’t hang on their tail
Key Features
- Like most animals that thrive in urban environment, possums are nocturnal, that is, they are active at night. You can often see how they rummage in the trash and wander along the roads in the evening.
- Little animals climb trees, but, contrary to common myth cannot hang on its tail.
- Each representative of this species has a surprisingly reliable the immune system and, like a mongoose, immune to the poison of rattlesnakes and vipers.
- Life expectancy is unusually short for mammals, as usually from 2 to 4 years. Aging is very fast.
- Opossums are naturally timid and try to avoid interaction with people and pets. However, if his provoked, can easily kill a puppy or kitten with his extremely sharp teeth. He hisses and screams at the attack.
Like most animals that thrive in urban environment, possums are nocturnal, that is, they are active at night. You can often see how they rummage in the trash and wander along the roads in the evening
- Despite the lack of aggressiveness, they pose a number of threats to human: due to extremely poor hygiene can tolerate diseases, parasites, ticks and lice.
- Possums have a maximum speed of only 7 miles in hour.
- They live on their own, and gather only during the marriage season.
- These animals are good climbers.
- Opossums communicate with each other by clicking sounds.
- They have a keen sense of smell and can also find food on touch.
- They have 50 razor-sharp teeth – the largest number of teeth, found in mammals.
Interesting! Frightened or startled animal can simulate death. Curled up on the ground with with his mouth open and his tongue sticking out, he pretends to be dead. He even can release foul-smelling feces. Breath slows on a few minutes or hours. During this performance it can poke, kick, he will not give signs of life. So the beast escapes predators, because most of them do not eat carrion. Scientists before still don’t know if the simulation is intentional or is it involuntary reaction.
Opossums eat insects, frogs, birds, snakes, various species fruits, earthworms and even the remains of other animals that died on the road
Food
Although possums are carnivorous in grading because of their teeth, they are almost omnivorous. First of all they are scavengers and feed on carrion.
These animals also eat insects like cicadas, frogs, birds, snakes, various species fruits, earthworms and even the remains of other animals that died on the road.
The animal has a number of natural enemies in its environment: it birds of prey such as owls and eagles, as well as foxes, dogs, cats.
People hunt them for meat. Many animals die on the roads during the hunt.
These animals are part of the ecosystem, terrestrial the food chain.
Consuming insects, fruits, small animals, and other foods, they themselves are food for coyotes, foxes, snakes and birds of prey.
Possum in the house
Behavior, reproduction
Opossums tend to be nomadic, staying in one area, while food and water are readily available.
Although they temporarily occupy abandoned burrows or nests, they themselves do not dig and make no effort to build a house.
They prefer dark, safe places, underground or in thickets.
As mentioned above, adult animals do not hang on their tail, but cubs can hang upside down.
The tenacious tails are not strong enough to support the weight of an adult beast, although they often serve as a support and fifth limb with climbing, and also used to bind leaves in the nest.
The breeding season begins at the end of winter. The female has 2 or 3 litter per year, depending on the climate of the environment. Everyone litter – up to 13 cubs.
Pregnancy is short, only 11 to 14 days. Children extremely small, so small that they can fit 20 a teaspoon.
After tiny possums are born, they find their way to mother’s bag where they will stay for the next two and a half months to continue ripening.
Since the main breeding takes place from December to February, it means that young growth becomes active from the end of April to the beginning august.
Puberty occurs in a year.
Interesting! After the kids leave bag, they will remain near the mother and beyond. Female sometimes wears young animals on the back, where the kids cling tightly and do not fall, even if she works on the ground or climbs a tree.
Opossum kids move on mom
Relationship with people
Opossum is an endangered animal extinctions, although due to deforestation and loss of habitual environment habitats, possums are becoming more common in urban and suburban areas.
Possum has long been known in the United States, particularly in southern regions that have many recipes and folklore, related to possum.
In Dominica and Trinidad, the animal is popular today, it can be hunted at certain times of the year.
You can even buy such a beast. His meat is traditionally fried or stewed. It is light, fine-grained. Used in dishes instead of a rabbit or chicken.
Historically, hunters in the Caribbean place a barrel of fresh water or rotten fruit to attract beast eating fruit.
Unlike hunting ferrets or Arctic foxes, these animals are not caught because of fur.
In Mexico, they use their tails as a folk remedy for improve fertility.
High-acid opossum fat is used as remedies for arthritis.
Possums are kept in zoos, where they can live up to 7 years. Children especially like to watch and feed them.
Our children know this funny animal from cartoons. Crash and Eddie – possums from the Ice Age – became their favorites.
Hooligan cheeky brothers get everyone, but at the same time take care of the named little sister, cheerful and kind.
Possums are kept in zoos, where they can live up to 7 years. Children are especially fond of watching them.
How funny and attractive a possum can be, a video film about baby Haddy will show you.
Opossum: funny marsupial baby
So who is he, the mysterious possum? Scavenger and pest or favorite hero of cartoons, games, climber, first-class artist and the eater of everything that falls into its clutches: from apples to worms and the snake?
