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The Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus), also locally known as the Yapok, is a marsupial of the family Didelphidae. This creature is found in the freshwater streams and lakes in Mexico, Central and South America to Argentina, and is the only living aquatic marsupial. It spends its days in bank-side burrows and emerges after dark to swim and search for fish, crustaceans and other aquatic animals, which it eats on the bank.
True opossums are unique to North America alone. The word "opossum" was taken from the native Algonquian word for the animal. Though the Yapok, as well as other marsupials in South America and Australia are called "possums," they are not closely related to the Virginia animal, and only derive their name by a generally similar shape and appearance.
The Yapok is a small opossum, 10.6 to 12.8 inches long, with a 14.2 to 15.75 inch long tail. The fur is in a marbled gray and black pattern while the muzzle, eye stripe, and crown are all black. A light band runs across the forehead anterior to the ears, which are rounded and naked. There are sensory facial bristles in tufts above each eye as well as whiskers. The animal's tail, furred and black at the base, is yellow or white at its end. The hind feet of the Yapok are webbed, while the forefeet ("hands") are not.
The Water Opossum has several adaptations for its watery lifestyle. It has short, dense fur which is water-repellent. The broad hind feet are webbed and are used for propulsion through water, moving with alternate strokes. They are symmetrical as well, which distributes force equally along both borders of the webbing; this increases the efficiency of the water opossum's movement through the water. Both males and females have pouches that open to the rear. The female uses her pouch to carry young, even while swimming. A strong ring of muscle makes the pouch watertight, protecting the young.
Yapoks mate in December and a litter of 1-5 young is born 2 weeks later in the nest. By 22 days the offspring are beginning to show some fur, and by 40 days or so their eyes are open, their bodies protruding from the mother's pouch. At 48 days of age, the young opossums detach from the nipples but still nurse and sleep with the mother.
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Found in Latin America the yapok is the only aquatic marsupial By what other name is it known?
The yapok is also known as the Water opossum.
What is the one marsupial that does not live in Australia?
There are more than just one marsupial that does not live in Australia, but two of the best known are the Virginia Opossum and the Yapok.
What is a yapok?
The yapok is another term for the water opossum, Latin name Chironectes minimus, a marsupial found in Central and South America.
What is yapok?
The yapok is another term for the water opossum, Latin name Chironectes minimus, a marsupial found in Central and South America.
Why is the yapok so unusual?
The yapok is unusual because it's the only marsupial that lives in water. It has peculiar characteristics like webbed feet and water repellent fur.
What are some sea animals that begin with the letter Y?
Yapok (water opossum)Yellow-finned tunaYellowtail fishYosemite toad* Yapok (aquatic opossum) * Yellow-finned tuna * Yosemite toad
What African animal names start with the letter Y?
* Yak * Yapok * Ynambu
What are examples of river mammals?
Mammals which are semi-aquatic, i.e. live on land but spend much of their time in rivers include the platypus, yapok, water shrew, water rat, beaver and otter.
To which animal is south America's yapok most related?
The yapok, also known as the water opossum, is most closely related to the opossum found in North and Central America. They are both members of the Didelphidae family, but the yapok has adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle in South America.
Animals that are from underwater that begin with letter y?
Yapok (aquatic opossum)Yellow-finned tunaYosemite toad
Where do opossoms live?
Possums are different to opossums, despite misconceptions about this. * True opossums are found only in North America, although there is a "water possum", also known as the yapok, which is found in central and South America. Possums are found in New Guinea, Australia (including Tasmania), Sulawesi (Indonesia) and a few other small islands in the Pacific region. Although not native to New Zealand, the brush-tailed possum was introduced into that country over a century ago and has subsequently become a pest.
Are there marsupials in America - if so what types?
There are several species of marsupials in America, given that America covers North, Central and South America. In North America, there is only the Virginia opossum. In central America can be found a type of "water-possum", known as the Yapok. South America is the home of the Monito del Monte.
