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opossum

  (ə-pŏs'əm, pŏs'əm) pronunciation
n., pl. opossum or -sums.
  1. Any of various nocturnal, usually arboreal marsupials of the family Didelphidae, especially Didelphis marsupialis of the Western Hemisphere, having a thick coat of hair, a long snout, and a long prehensile tail. See Regional Note at possum.
  2. Any of several similar marsupials of Australia belonging to the family Phalangeridae.

[Virginia Algonquian.]

WORD HISTORY   The word opossum takes us back to the earliest days of the American colonies. The settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, was founded in 1607 by the London Company, chartered for the planting of colonies. Even though the first years were difficult, promotional literature was glowing. In one such piece, A True Declaration of the Estate of the Colonie in Virginia, published in 1610, we find this passage: “There are … Apossouns, in shape like to pigges.” This is the first recorded use of opossum, although in a spelling that differs from the one later settled on to reproduce the sound of the Virginia Algonquian word from which our word came. The word opossum and its shortened form possum, first recorded in 1613 in more promotional literature, remind us of a time when the New World was still very new, settlers were few, and the inhabitants for whom the New World was not new were plentiful.


 
 
Animal Classification: Didelphimorphia

New World opossums

(Didelphidae)

Class: Mammalia

Order: Didelphimorphia

Family: Didelphidae

Number of families: 1

Thumbnail description
Small- to medium-sized terrestrial mammal with long, naked tail, opposable thumbs both in the hands and feet, long, pointed snout, naked ears that range from small to large, and medium to large eyes; color varies from nearly pure white to blackish; some species are unicolored, whereas others have distinct light and dark blotches and bands

Size
3–22 in (8–55 cm); 0.9 oz–11 lb (25–5,000 g)

Number of genera, species
15 genera; 61 species

Habitat
Dry and moist tropical forests, temperate forest, woodland, grasslands, scrub, and mangroves

Conservation status
Critically Endangered: 3 species; Endangered: 3 species; Vulnerable: 15 species; Near Threatened: 18 species; Data Deficient: 2 species

Distribution
North America from southern Canada and New England to southern Mexico, Central America, and South America to southern Argentina and Chile

Resources

Books:

Benton, M. J. The Rise of the Mammals. New York: Crescent Books, 1991.

Collins, L. Monotremes and Marsupials. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1973.

Eisenberg, J. F. Mammals of the Neotropics. Vol.1, The Northern Neotropics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990.

Eisenberg, J. F., and K. H. Redford. Mammals of the Neotropics. Vol. 3, The Central Neotropics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999.

Hunsaker II, D. The Biology of Marsupials. New York: Academic Press, 1977.

Nowak, R. M. Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th ed., Vol. 1, Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 1999.

Redford, K. H., and J. F. Eisenberg. Mammals of the Neotropics. Vol. 2, The Southern Cone. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder. Mammal Species of the World. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993.

Periodicals:

Alonso-Mejía, A., and R. A. Medellín. "Marmosa mexicana." Mammalian Species 421 (1992): 1–4.

Caceres, N. C. "Food Habits and Seed Dispersal by the White-eared Opossum, Didelphis albiventris, in Southern Brazil." Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 37 (2002): 97–104.

Castro, I., H. Zarza, and R. A. Medellín. "Philander opossum." Mammalian Species 638 (2000): 1–8.

Lemos, B., G. Marroig, and R. Cerqueira. "Evolutionary Rates and Stabilizing Selection in Large-bodied Opossum Skulls (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)." Journal of Zoology 255 (2001): 181–189.

Marshall, L. G. "Chironectes minimus." Mammalian Species 109 (1978): 1–6. ——. "Glironia venusta." Mammalian Species 107 (1978): 1–3. ——. "Lestodelphys halli." Mammalian Species 81 (1977): 1–3.

McManus, J. J. "Didelphis virginiana." Mammalian Species 40 (1974): 1–6.

Medellín, R. A. "Seed Dispersal of Cecropia obtusifolia by Two Species of Opossums." Biotropica 26 (1994): 400–407.

[Article by: Rodrigo A. Medellín, PhD]

 
Word Origin: opossum

Origin: 1610

In 1610, to encourage their supporters back home, members of the Virginia Company caused to be printed in London a pamphlet called A True Declaration of the Estate of the Colony in Virginia. This gives the first mention in print of creatures they called "Apossouns, in shape like to pigges." Like Raccoon (1609), opossum is a borrowing from an Algonquian Indian language.


 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: opossum

Virginia, or common, opossum (Didelphis virginiana).
(click to enlarge)
Virginia, or common, opossum (Didelphis virginiana). (credit: Robert J. Ellison — The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers)
Any of about 66 species (family Didelphidae) of New World, mostly arboreal, nocturnal marsupials. Highly adaptable and prolific, opossums have changed little in millions of years. The North American species, the stout-bodied common, or Virginia, opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), grows to 40 in. (100 cm) long. It is largely white and has an opposable clawless toe on each hind foot; with its long, hairless, prehensile tail, it resembles a large rat. Up to 25 grublike, 0.07-oz (2-g) newborns compete for the 13 nipples in the pouch, where the survivors spend four or five weeks; they spend the following eight to nine weeks clinging to the mother's back. The common opossum may feign death ("play possum") if surprised. It eats small animals, insects, and fruit, and sometimes domestic poultry and cultivated grain. See also possum.

For more information on opossum, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: opossum
(əpŏs'əm, pŏs'–) , name for several marsupials, or pouched mammals, of the family Didelphidae, native to Central and South America, with one species extending N to the United States. With the exception of an obscure group found in South American forests, opossums are the only living marsupials outside the Australia–New Guinea region. Extremely abundant despite the encroachment of civilization and apparently little changed over millions of years, they owe their success to their adaptability, omnivorous diet, and rapid reproductive rate. Opossums are more or less arboreal, nocturnal animals, with long noses, naked ears, prehensile tails, and opposable hind toes tipped with flat pads. They eat small animals, eggs, insects, and fruit. The common, or Virginia, opossum, Didelphis marsupialis, ranges from Argentina to the N United States; it is found mostly in wooded areas and is common in the SE United States. The common opossum resembles a large rat, with a white face and long, coarse fur of mixed white-tipped and black-tipped hairs. It spends time both in trees and on the ground and makes nests of leaves, usually in holes in trees. When frightened it goes into a state of collapse; this involuntary “playing possum” sometimes saves it from predators, who lose interest in an apparently dead animal. The female usually has the typical marsupial pouch, although it is absent in some of the South American species. The 6 to 18 young are born after a gestation of 12 days and weigh 1/15 oz. (1.9 grams); they crawl through the mother's fur to the pouch where they are carried and nursed for three months. After emerging, they ride on the mother's back, clinging to her fur or tail with their own tails. Because it raids domestic poultry and corn, the opossum is hunted in the South as a pest, as well as for food and sport. Among the other opossum species are the tiny mouse opossums (Marmosa species) and the yapok, or water opossum (Chironectes minimus), which has webbed feet and leads a semiaquatic existence. The yapok ranges from Guatemala to Brazil. Opossums are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Marsupialia, family Didelphidae.

Bibliography

See study by J. F. Keefe (1967).

 
Veterinary Dictionary: opossum

A cat-sized, arboreal, insectivorous and carnivorous marsupial with dense, black through every shade to white, fur with a pointed snout, bare prehensile tail and a noted ability to play dead when in danger—hence playing ‘possum. Called also American or Virginian opossum, Didelphis virginiana.

 
Wikipedia: Didelphimorphia
For the Eastern Hemisphere marsupial, see possum.
Didelphimorphia[1]
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous - Recent
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Didelphimorphia
Gill, 1872
Family: Didelphidae
Gray, 1821
Genera

Several; see text
Opossum fur is quite soft, and was once commonly used in the bathtub as a sponge[citation needed].
Enlarge
Opossum fur is quite soft, and was once commonly used in the bathtub as a sponge[citation needed].

Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. A sister group is Paucituberculata (shrew opossums). They are commonly also called "possums," though that term is also applied to Australian fauna of the suborder Phalangeriformes. The Virginia Opossum is the original animal named "opossum". The word comes from Algonquian wapathemwa. Colloquially, the Virginia opossum is frequently called simply possum.

Didelphimorphs are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house cat. They tend to be semi-arboreal omnivores, although there are many exceptions. Most members of this taxon have long snouts, a narrow braincase, and a prominent sagittal crest. The dental formula (one side of one jaw) includes five incisors (four on the lower jaw), one canine, three premolars and four tricuspid molars. By mammal standards, this is a very full jaw. The incisors are very small, the canines large.

Didelphimorphs have a plantigrade stance (feet flat on the ground) and the hind feet have an opposable digit with no claw. Like some primates, opossums have prehensile tails. The stomach is simple, with a small cecum. Opossum reproductive systems are extremely basic, with a reduced marsupium. This means that the young are born at a very early stage. The species are moderately sexually dimorphic with males usually being somewhat larger than females. The largest difference between the opossum and other sexually reproductive animals is the bifurcated penis of the male and bifurcated vagina of the female (the source of the Latin "didelphis," meaning double-wombed).

Didelphimorphs are opportunistic omnivores with a very broad range of diet. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive strategy make them successful colonizers and survivors in unsettled times. Originally native to the eastern United States, the Virginia Opossum was intentionally introduced into the west during the Great Depression, probably as a source of food. Its range has been expanding steadily northwards, thanks in part to more plentiful, man-made sources of fresh water, increased shelter due to urban encroachment, and milder winters. Its range has extended into Ontario, Canada, and it has been found farther north than Toronto.

Opossums are usually nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available. Though they will temporarily occupy abandoned burrows, they do not dig or put much effort into building their own. They favor dark, secure areas, below ground or above.

When threatened or harmed, they will "play possum", mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. The lips are drawn back, teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. The physiological response is involuntary, rather than a conscious act. Their stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away. Many injured opossums have been killed by well-meaning people who find a catatonic animal and assume the worst. The best thing to do upon finding an injured or apparently dead opossum is to leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. In minutes or hours, the animal will regain consciousness and escape quietly on its own.

Adult opossums do not hang from trees by their tails, though babies may dangle temporarily. Their prehensile tails are not strong enough to support a mature adult's weight. Instead, the opossum uses its tail as a brace and a fifth limb when climbing. The tail is occasionally used as a grip to carry bunches of leaves or bedding materials to the nest. A mother will sometimes often her young upon her back, where they will cling tightly even when she is climbing or running.

Threatened opossums (especially male) will growl deeply, raising the pitch as the threat becomes more urgent. Males make a clicking "smack" noise out of the side of their mouths as they wander in search of a mate, and females will sometimes repeat the sound in return. When separated or distressed, baby opossums will make a sneezing noise to signal their mother.

Opossums have a remarkably robust immune system, and show partial or total immunity to the venom of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other pit vipers.[2][3] Thanks to their lower blood temperature, rabies is almost unknown in opossums.[4]

The opossum lifespan is unusually short for a mammal of its size, usually only 2 to 4 years. Senescence is rapid.[5]

The opossum was described as early as 1565 in the published letter entitled "Carigueya, Seu Marsupiale Americanum Masculum. Or, The Anatomy of a Male Opossum: In a Letter to Dr Edward Tyson, from Mr William Cowper, Chirurgeon, and Fellow of the Royal Society, London. To Which are Premised Some Further Observations on the Opossum; And a New Division of Terrestrial Brute Animals, Particularly of Those That Have Their Feet Formed Like Hands. Where an Account is Given of Some Animals Not Yet Described", by Edward Tyson, M. D. Fellow of the College of Physicians and of the Royal Society. The letter suggests even earlier descriptions.[6]

Use as food

The opossum was a favorite game animal in the United States, and in particular the southern regions which have a large body of recipes and folklore relating to the opossum. Opossum was once widely consumed in the United States where available as evidenced by recipes in older editions of The Joy of Cooking. In Dominica and Trinidad opossum or "manicou" is popular and can only be hunted during certain times of the year due to over-hunting; the meat is traditionally prepared by smoking then stewing. The meat is light and fine grained, but the musk glands must be removed as part of preparation. The meat can be used in place of rabbit and chicken in recipes. The cousin of the opossum, the possum, found in Australia and New Zealand is consumed in a similar manner. (Davidson, 1999)

Historically, hunters in the Caribbean would place a barrel with fresh or rotten fruit to attract opossums who would feed on the fruit or insects. Cubans growing up in the mid-twentieth century tell of brushing the maggots out of the mouths of "manicou" caught in this manner to prepare them for consumption. It is said also that the gaminess of the meat causes gas.[citation needed]

In Mexico, opossums are known as "tlacuache" or "tlaquatzin". Their tails are eaten as a folk remedy to improve fertility.

Opossum oil (Possum grease) is high in essential fatty acids and has been used as a chest rub and a carrier for arthritis remedies given as topical salves.

Classification

References

  1. ^ a b Gardner, Alfred (November 16, 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 3-18. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ http://www.wildliferescueleague.org/report/opossum.html
  3. ^ http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0104-79301999000100005&script=sci_arttext
  4. ^ http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/frequently_asked_questions.htm#Do%20opossums%20carry%20rabies?
  5. ^ http://www.opossum.org/facts.htm
  6. ^ http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-2372%28193208%2913%3A3%3C241%3ATPCAPM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0
Extant mammal orders by infraclass
Australosphenida Monotremata
Metatheria Didelphimorphia · Paucituberculata · Microbiotheria · Notoryctemorphia · Dasyuromorphia · Peramelemorphia · Diprotodontia
Eutheria Afrosoricida · Macroscelidea · Tubulidentata · Hyracoidea · Proboscidea · Sirenia · Cingulata · Pilosa · Scandentia · Dermoptera · Primates · Rodentia · Lagomorpha · Erinaceomorpha · Soricomorpha · Chiroptera · Pholidota · Carnivora · Perissodactyla · Artiodactyla · Cetacea

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
Translations: Translations for: Opossum

Dansk (Danish)
n. - opossum, pungrotte

Nederlands (Dutch)
buidelrat

Français (French)
n. - opossum

Deutsch (German)
n. - Opossum, Beutelratte

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ζωολ.) δίδελφυς, μαρσιπόμυς

Italiano (Italian)
opossum

Português (Portuguese)
n. - gambá (m)

Русский (Russian)
опоссум

Español (Spanish)
n. - zarigüeya

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - opossum, pungråtta

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
负鼠

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 負鼠

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 주머니쥐

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - オポッサム, フクロネズミ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) حيوان أمريكي له جراب ( يشبه السنجاب)‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮אופוסום (חיית-כיס)‬

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Animal Classification. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2005 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Word Origin. America in So Many Words, by David K.Barnhart and Allan A. Metcalf. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Didelphimorphia".  Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more

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