Where does the opossum live ⋆ Online magazine for women

Habitat

Opossums are found throughout the United States. They are found in southern Canada, North America (Argentina) and South America (Chile), and Mexico. Their unassuming biology, flexible diet, and reproductive strategy made them successful colonizers and kept them alive during turbulent times. Not to be confused with other marsupials, such as the sugar possum (or sugar glider), which is native to Australia. Originally native to the eastern United States, the opossum arrived in the west during the Great Depression, likely as a food source. Its range is steadily expanding to the north. The animal inhabits areas of meadows, agricultural lands and forests of North America. It is also seen in urban areas, usually those that are close to water, where it feeds on garbage.

Interesting! The opossum was first described in early 1565 in a published letter to Dr. Edward Tyson from Mr. William Cooper, a physician and member of the Royal Society in London.

Cross-eyed possum Characteristics More than 17 genera and 60 species of this animal are known. Among them: fluffy, water, graceful, thick-tailed opossums and others. Opossums are funny, medium-sized mammals that reach the size of a large cat.

Opossum, habitat photo

Currently, all opossums live in North and South America from Ontario to Argentina, however, during excavations in Europe, paleontologists discovered fossilized remains of opossums in tertiary deposits. Their habitat is wide, they live in forests and steppes, as well as in semi-deserts, some species lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle, others prefer to settle in trees or in burrows on flat areas. There are also some species that live in mountainous areas, at altitudes of up to four thousand meters above sea level.

Opossum life expectancy and reproduction, photo

By their nature, the animals are solitary animals, with the exception of the breeding season. Opossums are very fertile - pregnancy in females lasts only two weeks, and the number of cubs exceeds twenty in one litter. The life span does not exceed eight years, sexual maturity in both sexes occurs by seven months.

What a possum does when in danger

As a wild animal, the opossum is extremely shy. If it encounters a predator, it falls sharply and pretends to be dead. At this moment, copious foam begins to flow from the mouth, the eyes become cloudy, and a secretion of a very pungent odor is released from the glands in the anus. Having sniffed the body, the predator usually becomes disdainful and leaves, but the animal comes to life and runs away. When faced with danger, the possum can pretend to be dead while emitting an unpleasant odor.

Possum pretended to be dead, scared of something

Opossum at home photo

Cage and all for the possum

As family pets, it is worth considering such an exotic option as domestic possums. These animals behave quite calmly, each of them has its own character. Under no circumstances should you physically punish an offending pet; this will eventually make him angry and may bite; you should also not lock them in cages for a long time; confinement also makes them angry. Since they are excellent tree climbers, their prehensile tail and claws help them in this, it is best to buy or make a special training device yourself.

Possum diet at home

The sugar possum, as the most popular domestic species, is a very picky eater. An incorrectly selected diet can significantly shorten his lifespan. Firstly, you cannot constantly feed them with ready-made food, and secondly, it is necessary to regularly feed them with nuts and other natural products, since they are omnivores. Sometimes you can give small pieces of meat, vegetables and fruits; in addition, they are very fond of flies, worms, especially, popular among fishermen, maggots - fly larvae. The opossum is a rather cute creature, but still has a wild disposition. The sugar possum or possum is the most common domestic species.

How much does a possum cost?

The price of a sugar glider (possum) varies from 2,500 to 10,000 rubles, although there are breeders who ask 15 and 20 thousand rubles for their pets. These prices are valid as of 02.08. 2021

Opossum's attitude to cleanliness and water

Opossums from the Ice Age loved to swim, this fact applies to real life, because they are very clean, so the animal’s cage must be cleaned regularly, at least once every two days. It is very important that there is always a sufficient amount of water in the cage, since opossums drink very often and a lot, and a lack of moisture can lead to illness.

Possum for kids

If children want an animal such as an opossum, they can buy it at nurseries or from owners of adult possums. Also, on ad sites there is always a section for the sale of animals, in which you can search for such exotic specimens. Having such a pet, you will remember a lot of funny moments that you can watch every day, because each of them has a unique character and playful disposition. Since the animal is very fertile, the price for a baby possum is not very high - around four to five thousand rubles.

Possum fur photo

Possum fur texture

Scientists have found that the structure of possum hair is very similar to the hair of a polar bear - it is hollow inside, which retains heat, and in addition, the light plays very beautifully on its skin. Because of these qualities, they are very popular among fur coat manufacturers.

Opossum fur coat

A possum fur coat, when well made, looks no worse than a sable one. Since their breeding is a simple matter, the price for such a product is within twenty-five thousand rubles. Such fur coats are very popular among young fashionistas who do not yet have enough money for a more expensive option.

Durability of a possum fur coat

Its only drawback is its fragility. Such a fur coat can serve faithfully, with proper care, for up to five winter seasons - this is not a record figure, but not small either. Even a mink coat will most likely require replacement with a new one for many women within five years.

Opossum photo watch video

Our Virginia opossum: a sweet charm or a terrible nasty thing?

Happy holiday to all ladies! Today we will tell you about our loneliest lady. It's no secret that we...

Strawberries are a favorite treat for opossums.

One can only dream about this...

Opossum kanadskiy drift

Quality items https://goo.gl/MSIzG8 The opossum is an arboreal marsupial. The opossum is an American marsupial mammal...

Possum plays dead

The cross-eyed possum has won the hearts of the Germans

https://russian.ntdtv.com) In Germany, another animal woke up famous. After bears and octopuses hearts...

You are not yourself when you're hungry! This lazy possum even eats while lying down!

GO TO HOME TO OTHER BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF ANIMALS

Opossums - Wikipedia

Opossums (Didelphidae) are a family of mammals of the infraclass marsupials. It includes the most…

A cunning opossum pretended to be a cat (3 photos) » Trinixi

An elderly Kansas woman known for her kindness towards cats allowed her...

THE CAT WHO WAS BROUGHLY STOPPED BY A POSSUM BECAME AN INTERNET STAR

03/13/2018 — Vesti A photo shoot of a domestic cat, whose bowl was brazenly eaten by an opossum that ran into the house, is gaining popularity on the Internet. The uninvited guest eats the cat food, causing shock, indignation and confusion in the cat. The photographs were published on the Trinixi.ru portal. The cat is waiting for his owner to help him, but he...

Appearance

Opossums are cute, medium-sized mammals that reach the size of a large cat. They have whitish-gray fur, sometimes black and white with various light and dark stripes. The head and throat are white. Short legs, a long pointed muzzle, sly beady eyes, a long prehensile tail and sharp claws. The female has a pouch.

The head and throat are traditionally white.

Other distinctive features worth highlighting are:

short legs;
elongated pointed muzzle;
cunning beady eyes;
a long tail;
sharp talons.

The female is easily distinguished by the presence of a pouch. These animals have pronounced moderate sexual dimorphism, so males are always larger than females. Males have a bifurcated penis, and females have a bifurcated vagina.

Due to their special body structure, these animals can climb trees, but cannot cling to branches with their tails, although there is a misconception to the contrary about this.
The advantage is an amazingly stable immune system, thanks to which these animals can even survive the bites of a rattlesnake and viper.
Even considering that they represent the class of mammals, these animals live extremely short - on average 2-4 years. Animals age very quickly.
A distinctive character trait is timidity, so these animals do not strive to come into direct contact with people and pets. But in some cases, if he has no other choice, the animal can kill a puppy or kitten with its sharp teeth. When attacking, it makes a sound resembling a hiss or scream.
Opossums are not aggressive animals, but they still pose a certain danger to humans. Since they often live near garbage heaps, they can easily become carriers of dangerous diseases, parasites, ticks and lice.
When moving, opossums can only reach speeds of no more than 7 mph.
Opossums live alone and can only meet a couple during mating season.
These creatures have excellent climbing skills.
When communicating with each other, they make characteristic clicking sounds.
Opossums have an excellent sense of smell and, if necessary, can find food by touch.
Opossums have 50 sharp teeth, the number of which exceeds all other known mammals.

Animal possum: photo, characteristics

Today, the opossum family includes 17 genera and 60 species. The most famous representatives are furry possums, water possums, graceful possums, etc.

Appearance

Opossums are medium-sized mammals that are similar in size to a large cat. If you look at the picture, these animals have whitish-gray fur; some may have a black and white coat with light and dark stripes. The head and throat are traditionally white . Other distinctive features worth highlighting are:

short legs;
elongated pointed muzzle;
cunning beady eyes;
a long tail;
sharp talons.

Key Features

Considering that these animals often live in urban environments, they become active mainly at night. Therefore, when going for a walk in the evening, it is quite possible to meet these animals among the mountains of garbage.
Due to their special body structure, these animals can climb trees, but cannot cling to branches with their tails, although there is a misconception to the contrary about this.
The advantage is an amazingly stable immune system, thanks to which these animals can even survive the bites of a rattlesnake and viper.
Even considering that they represent the class of mammals, these animals live extremely short - on average 2-4 years. Animals age very quickly.
A distinctive character trait is timidity, so these animals do not strive to come into direct contact with people and pets. But in some cases, if he has no other choice, the animal can kill a puppy or kitten with its sharp teeth. When attacking, it makes a sound resembling a hiss or scream.
Opossums are not aggressive animals, but they still pose a certain danger to humans. Since they often live near garbage heaps, they can easily become carriers of dangerous diseases, parasites, ticks and lice.
When moving, opossums can reach speeds of no more than 7 miles per hour.
Opossums live alone and can only meet a couple during mating season.
These creatures have excellent climbing skills.
When communicating with each other, they make characteristic clicking sounds.
Opossums have an excellent sense of smell and, if necessary, can find food by touch.
Opossums have 50 sharp teeth, the number of which exceeds all other known mammals.

Habitat

According to scientists, in prehistoric times these animals were very widespread throughout modern Europe, as evidenced by paleontological excavations. Opossums are currently thriving in the New World . Glaciers and the associated climate cooling affected these territories less than Europe. Possums are most common in North and South America and Argentina, but recently they have been actively expanding into more northern territories. They also live in southeastern Canada and the Lesser Antilles.

Opossums live in forests of all types, steppes and even semi-deserts. They can be found both in flat areas and in mountainous areas at altitudes up to 4000 meters. There are species that lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle, settling near water bodies and building burrows in tree hollows. But most of them still lead an arboreal or terrestrial lifestyle.

This is interesting! There are opossums that settle near human habitation, but most often avoid communication with people.

Possum Habitat

Their habitat is wide, they live in forests and steppes, as well as in semi-deserts, some species lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle, others prefer to settle in trees or in burrows on flat areas.

There are also some species that live in mountainous areas, at altitudes of up to four thousand meters above sea level.

Nutrition

In terms of feeding, opossums are omnivores . They feed on insects, various roots, fruits and berries, and less often can go out on real hunting, but this is more typical for large species. Lizards, rodents such as mice, rats and even rabbits can be hunted.

In general, nutrition depends on the type of opossum and its habitat conditions. There are even aquatic possums, they feed mainly on fish, and sometimes they can hunt frogs and small water snakes. In times of famine, cases of cannibalism often occur. These animals have a good appetite, but the point is not their gluttony, it’s just that opossums thus create fat reserves for “difficult” times.

If you keep the animal as a pet, you can feed it fruits, vegetables, chicken and eggs. In rare cases, you can give food intended for cats, but you should not abuse it.

Reproduction

The opossum leads a solitary lifestyle . However, during the mating period they form a pair, but this does not last long. After the end of the mating season, which lasts from December to January, the animals disperse again. Opossums are very prolific animals. Pregnancy in females is very short and lasts only 20-25 days, in small species pregnancy can last only 15 days, from 8 to 15 cubs are born in a litter, in rare cases their number can reach 25. Cubs are born completely unadapted to life, more like embryos, their size is about the size of a bee and weighs from 2 to 5 grams.

This is interesting! The period of feeding the offspring with milk is quite long and lasts up to 100 days. During this time, small opossums are actively developing and gaining weight. After about 2 months, they gradually become covered with fur and their eyes open.

After this, they can switch to adult food. Sexual maturity occurs at 6-8 months in both females and males. Some species of opossum carry their young in a pouch, but most do not have one and therefore females carry their young on their backs.

Types of possums

There are 55 species of mouse-like possums, which also resemble rats.

Examples include:

Pygmy possum . He has yellow-gray, light fur. The animal reaches 31 centimeters in length, which does not justify the name of the species. There are smaller possums.
Limsky . Opened in 1920. The animal lives in the north of Brazil and is rare. There are almost 80% of these among the 55 species of opossums.
Blase . Also a Brazilian opossum, discovered in 1936. The animal lives in the area of Goias. Like other mouse-like possums, the Blaze has a pointed, narrow muzzle.
Velvety . Found in Bolivia and Argentina. The species was discovered in 1842. Representatives of the species are reddish in color. The fur is like velvet. Hence the name of the species.
Graceful . This possum lives in the south of Brazil and Argentina, discovered in 1902. The animal received its name for its special harmony and grace of movements.
Red opossum . Lives in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname. The marsupial has a particularly pronounced fat deposit at the base of the tail. The color of the animal, as the name implies, is red. The size of the opossum does not exceed 25 centimeters including the tail.

Among the possums with long fur, medium size, more reminiscent of foxes, squirrels or martens, we mention:

Water view. Found in Central and South America. The body of the animal is 30 cm. The water possum has a 40-centimeter tail The animal's muzzle is milky in color, and the fur on its body is marble-black. The marsupial settles near bodies of water, catching fish in them. Unlike most opossums, the water possum has long limbs. Due to them, the animal is tall.
Four-eyed possum . Has white spots above the dark eyes. They resemble a second pair of eyes. Hence the name of the species. The fur of its representatives is dark gray. The animal lives in the mountains of Central and South America. The four-eyed possum is about a third smaller in size than the aquatic possum.
Sugar possum . His middle name is flying squirrel. According to the zoological classification, the animal is a possum, not an opossum. These are different families. In addition to their territorial separation, their representatives differ in appearance.

Possum fur, for example, is plush-like and hollow on the inside. Opossums' hairs are completely full, coarser, and longer. Animals' eyes are smaller and not bulging. The sugar possum is only called by many in the American manner, but looks like an Australian.

Australian opossum . In fact, he is also a possum. In Australia, the animal is one of the most common marsupials. Plush fur covers the entire body of the animal and has a golden tone.
Virginia opossum . Refers to the true ones. It lives in North America and has a full-sized pouch. The size of the animal is comparable to a domestic cat. The fur of the Virginia opossum is hard, tousled, and gray. The closest relatives are the southern and common species.

There are 75 species of American opossums. They are divided into 11 genera. No matter what genus the true opossum belongs to, it is slow and clumsy. That is why the animal chose to pretend to be dead as the best way to protect itself.

Here are a few of the most common types of possums. They are all different in lifestyle, size, diet and habitat.

Common opossum

The most famous of all. This is a fairly large species of this animal, it can reach the size of a domestic cat and weigh up to 6 kilograms. But as a rule, the usual weight is 4.5-5 kilograms. Inhabits forests, mainly near water bodies. It feeds on cereals, small lizards, insects, and mushrooms. They eat carrion less often.

Virginia possum

It is also a fairly large animal weighing up to 6 kilograms. Most often it inhabits moist forests, but can also be found on prairies. It feeds on small rodents, birds, and destroys nests. Can successfully attack young rabbits.

Water possum

Leads an aquatic lifestyle. It feeds on fish, crayfish and freshwater shrimp, and sometimes eats fruit. It catches food with its front paws while floating. Unlike other species, these opossums give birth to quite a few cubs, from 1 to 6, while others have from 8 to 20 babies.

Mouse Possum

This is a small animal up to 15 centimeters in size. Inhabits mountain forests at altitudes up to 2500 meters. It feeds on insects, fruits and bird eggs. There are up to 12 cubs in a litter.

Gray bare-tailed possum

This is a very small species. Body length reaches 12-16 centimeters, and weight up to 120 grams. They live on plains, mainly in low and dense grass. Often settles near human habitation.

Patagonian possum. Also a small species of opossum, its body reaches a length of 13-15 centimeters and weighs only 50 grams. It feeds mainly on insects, less often small birds or lizards.

Appearance and features

Photo: Possum animal

We found out that there are different types of opossums in nature, so we will consider the characteristic external signs and features of this animal using the example of an ordinary opossum. The dimensions of this animal are small, it reaches a length of about 60 cm, females are 10 centimeters smaller. In general, the opossum is similar in size to an ordinary adult cat. His muzzle is pointed and elongated.

The tail of the animal is powerful, bare, not covered with hair, and at the base it is much thicker. With its help, the opossum hangs on branches when sleeping or moving in the crown of trees. The opossum's coat is not long, but thickly padded and dense.

The color of the animals varies depending on their species and habitat, so possums can be:

Dark gray;
Brownish-gray;
Brown;
Light gray;
Black;
Beige.

If we talk about the common opossum, then its fur is gray with whitish streaks, and its head is lighter, on which beady black eyes and rounded ears stand out. The animal has five-fingered paws, each toe has a sharp claw. The animal's jaws indicate its primitiveness. The opossum has 50 teeth, 4 of them are fangs, their structure and location are similar to the structure of the teeth of ancient mammals.

A characteristic feature of the animal is the presence of a pouch in which it carries its cubs, because they are born prematurely, and in it they grow up and become stronger. The bursa is a fold of skin that opens towards the tail. It is interesting that some varieties of opossums lack a pouch, i.e. are marsupials, and the cubs hang on the mother's breast until they gain independence.

Lifestyle

The opossum is an animal that prefers southern habitats. Therefore, there are only a few species of marsupials in North America. Climbing deeper into the continent, animals freeze their exposed tails and ears in harsh winters.

However, there are species of true possums in which only the tip of the tail is exposed. Most of its surface is covered with fur. Just remember the fat-tailed opossum. He, however, lives in South America, not North America.

Features of the opossum's lifestyle include:

solitary existence
living in forests, steppes and semi-steppes
the majority lead an arboreal lifestyle (a third are terrestrial and only the aquatic possum is semi-aquatic)
activity during twilight and night time
the presence of a semblance of hibernation (with short periods of wakefulness on fine days), if the animal lives in a northern area

about possums that they are smart. In intelligence, animals are inferior to dogs, cats, and ordinary rats. However, this does not prevent many possums from being kept at home. They are attracted by the small size of animals, their flexibility, and playfulness.

The film “Ice Age” contributed to the popularity of the animals. Possum became not just one of his heroes, but a public favorite.

Self-defense

If persecuted, opossums never defend themselves. Possums have a favorite tactic, “Play dead,” which often saves their life. The main rule is to competently pretend to be dead.

Seeing a threat, the animal falls to the ground, its eyes glaze over, its mouth opens slightly and foam begins to come out of its mouth. As the final act of the performance, they release a secretion with an unpleasant odor from the anal glands.

The predator, having circled this “dead creature” in a couple of circles, runs away. As soon as the enemy leaves, the possum jumps up and runs further into the forest.

Interesting Facts

Opossums are very shy animals . Whenever there is any danger, they run away or pretend to be dead, so they are not easy to catch. But scientists found a way out: it turned out that these animals have a craving for alcohol. To catch a possum, you just need to place saucers with an alcoholic drink along the paths of the animals. They will drink it with great pleasure and, having lost the ability to move, they can be safely collected.

Of all the senses, according to scientists, these animals have the most developed sense of smell. Another interesting fact is that they hardly make any sounds, except when they are in pain.

This is interesting! Almost all types of possums are wandering animals and do not have their own fixed territory in which they hunt, as is the case with other animals.

These animals are often used as pets, although in our country this is exotic, since they are quite capricious in their maintenance. In addition, possum fur is used as a material for making clothing and fashion accessories. True, it does not differ in quality and durability and therefore is not popular.

Description and features of possums

Opossums are small mammals that also belong to the infraclass marsupials. The first representatives appeared a long time ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period. They haven't changed much since then.

This is evidenced by their morphology, firstly, the structure of the bag and limbs, and secondly, the arrangement of the teeth according to the archaic formula: five incisors above, four below, well-developed fangs, molars with sharply tuberculated teeth. In total, they have 50 teeth in their mouth.

Opossums can range in size from seven to fifty centimeters, depending on the species. They gain weight up to six to seven kilograms. The animal’s muzzle is always sharp, and at the base of the tail there may be a thickening in which excess fat is deposited for a “rainy day.”

Their tail is almost always hairless. The possum's body is covered with thick fur, but it is quite short. At the ends of their paws, possums have five toes with sharp claws. They are nocturnal.

The diet is dominated by insects, but they can also be omnivores. The diet depends directly on the habitat. Some prefer plants, while others go full-on hunting.

Opossum as a pet

The opossum can be kept at home as a pet. But exotic lovers should be disappointed. These are nocturnal animals and it will be very difficult to accustom them to the human daily routine. You should feed him fresh food: fruits, chicken, insects, worms. You should absolutely not feed them fatty meats, as this can make them sick. If you get a pair of possums, then they need to be kept in separate cages, otherwise fights and conflicts are inevitable. Possums should never be punished as they can bite seriously.

Disadvantages of keeping possums at home:

The sugar possum will not adapt to the owner's daily routine . He will behave as he is used to. At night, the marsupial flying squirrel will not sleep, but will jump around the cage, make various sounds, and rattle the bars. Therefore, it is best to allocate a separate room for his cage, which will be located away from the bedroom.
Opossums are not very clean and do not know how to use the toilet. Since in nature they jump from tree to tree almost without falling to the ground, they urinate on the fly. So at home, they will mark furniture, wallpaper and even the owner with their excrement.
Opossums are accustomed to marking their territory with special glands. This is a very specific smell. It is almost impossible to wash it off clothes , so you will have to get used to it.
Possums should never be trusted with children. This will benefit both the children and the animal. If you squeeze it in your hand, it can bite hard. The sugar possum loves to run over its owner like a tree, leaving deep wounds with its claws that do not heal well.

But, despite all the disadvantages of keeping marsupial flying squirrels at home, there are many more advantages.

What do possums eat?

The house possum (Monodelphis domestica) is a marsupial without a pouch. In nature, this species lives in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Central Brazil.

They can live in different types of forests. They can climb trees very well, but they prefer a terrestrial lifestyle. Dwellings are built in hollows or in stones, but always near a reservoir. The body length of the house possum is up to 28 cm, and the tail is up to 8 cm. Males are larger in size than females, their fur is thicker and wavy. The house possum is dark gray in color, with a contrasting white belly. There are bulging eyes on the elongated muzzle. The base of the grasping tail is thickened with fatty deposits.

These animals got their name due to their habit of settling into human homes without permission. Therefore, residents of houses immediately have a question: what do possums eat in their house? But, having appeared without millet, they bring benefits: they catch mice and insects, so the owners are always happy to have such guests. The only inconvenience is their nocturnal lifestyle. While awake, they can click and hiss aggressively, which causes some discomfort to their owners.

House possums are solitary animals and do not like to communicate with their relatives. Sometimes fights between individuals lead to very sad consequences. If you place a male and a female together for a long period of time, they will stop producing offspring, long-term contact with each other is so unpleasant for them. For this reason, in zoos, house possums live not only in different cages, but also in separate rooms so that they do not smell each other.

Many people are interested in what opossums eat in the wild and in captivity. Under natural conditions, these can be fruits and seeds of trees, insects, small rodents and even carrion. The house possum is a good hunter and prefers food of animal origin. In zoos or at home, house possums are fed meat, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, and bone meal. It is very useful to add insects and newborn mice to the diet.

If you manage to tame a house possum, it will become a wonderful friend and family pet. At home, he needs a cage, which will become a safety and comfort zone for him after walking around the house. House possums can breed all year round and can produce 4 litters per year.

Only the female raises the babies. She brings food to the grown cubs that have separated from the nipples and warms them.

Conditions of detention

At home, the sugar possum requires maximum space. We must remember that the animals are very active, and their element is trees.

It is better to keep them in spacious enclosures with a distance between the bars of about 1.3 cm . The rods must have a PVC coating. The animals are very smart, so you need to take care of a secure lock.
The cage should have a drinking bowl and several feeders. Before hanging up the water bowl, you should make sure that your pet is accustomed to it. Otherwise, the animal may simply die of thirst. Feeders should be metal or ceramic, small in size.
Climbing devices should be built inside the cage. These could be branches, pipes for rodents, ladders, ropes.
Necessary for a possum in a cage and a hanging house . It can be wooden or fabric. The passage into the house should be seven to nine centimeters in diameter. If you have a couple of animals, then you may soon have offspring. In this case, the house will need to be lowered so that the kids don’t fall.
Since gliders mark territory, the cage and its contents will have to be washed frequently . At the same time, you need to be very careful with detergents. Everything should be rinsed well.
Animals should not be allowed to roam freely in a house where other animals or birds of prey live.
It should be remembered that possums do not like drafts, temperatures below twenty degrees and bright lighting.

Classification

The order Didelphimorphia contains one modern[4] and several ancient extinct families[2]:

†Genus Aenigmadelphys
†Genus Apistodon
†Genus Iqualadelphis
†Genus Varalphadon
†Family Alphadontidae
†Family Peradectidae
†Family Stagodontidae
†Superfamily Borhyaenoidea [ syn.
Sparassodonta] † Genus Lycopsis
†Family Borhyaenidae
†Family Hathliacynidae
†Family Mayulestidae
†Family Proborhyaenidae
†Family Thylacosmilidae

Superfamily Didelphoidea

†Genus Carolopaulacoutoia

†Genus Szalinia

Family Didelphidae - Opossums

†Family Derorhynchidae

†Superfamily Pediomyoidea

†Family Aquiladelphidae

†Family Glasbiidae

†Family Pediomyidae

Feeding

Prohibited products:

birdseed;
cheese;
raisin;
grape;
lettuce;
a large number of nuts.

An approximate balanced diet:

Fruit is the most important product in a possum's diet. They should make up 70% of the serving.
Protein food should make up 30% of the serving.
Food should have less phosphorus and more calcium.
Give little sweets, only as a treat.
You can give some meat supplements (unsalted boiled chicken or turkey).
You can’t do without live food (grasshoppers or zoophobes).
Once a week you should give honey, which has a good effect on digestion.

Of course, keeping sugar possums is far from easy. However, those who are not afraid of difficulties can safely get fluffy marsupial flyers and they will give about fifteen unforgettable years of companionship.

Relationships with people

The opossum is not an endangered animal, although due to deforestation and loss of habitat, possums are becoming more common in urban and suburban areas.

The opossum has long been known in the United States, particularly in the southern regions, which have many culinary recipes and folklore relating to the opossum.

In Dominica and Trinidad, the animal is still popular today and can be hunted at certain times of the year. You can even buy such an animal. Its meat is traditionally fried or stewed. It is light, fine-grained. Used in dishes instead of rabbit or chicken.

Historically, hunters in the Caribbean would place a barrel of fresh water or rotten fruit to attract fruit-eating game.

Unlike hunting ferrets or arctic foxes , these animals are not hunted for their fur. In Mexico, their tails are used as a folk remedy to improve fertility. Possum fat, which is highly acidic, is used as a remedy for arthritis. Our children know this funny animal from cartoons. Crash and Eddie, the possums from Ice Age, became their favorites.

The hooligan, impudent brothers annoy everyone, but at the same time they take care of their named sister, they are cheerful and kind.

Opossums are kept in zoos, where they can live up to 7 years. Children especially love to watch and feed them.

Opossums

Opossums (Didelphidae) are a family of mammals of the infraclass marsupials. It is the largest family of marsupials in the Americas. It is represented by more than 100 species of possums, which are classified into 19 genera. Their body sizes range from small to medium: body length 7-50 cm, tail 4-55 cm, and weight ranges from 10 g to 2 kg. They have expressive elongated snouts, and bare skinny tails are another important feature of possums. Sexual dimorphism is present in many species, with males larger than females.

photo: Bruce Smith

The family Didelphidae has a wide geographic range throughout the Nearctic and Neotropical zones. These animals can be found throughout North, Central and South America, as well as the surrounding continental shelf and Caribbean islands. They can live in dry environments, tropical forests, grasslands, mountains, temperate forests and near populated areas.

photo: Ben Cvengros

Opossums lead a solitary life, but are not territorial animals, as they move from place to place depending on the amount of food. They lead a nocturnal and often twilight lifestyle. They have several forms of locomotion, including terrestrial, climbing, arboreal and semi-aquatic. Many species use nests they create themselves, or use the nests of other species.

photo: Eddie Callaway

Opossums are arboreal and omnivores. They eat a wide range of invertebrates, vertebrates and plant matter. Species found in and close to cities may feed on garbage and pet food.

photo: Jeff

All species of opossums are polygamous. They become sexually mature at 6 to 10 months of age, and have 1 to 4 breeding cycles per year. Their breeding season is largely determined by food availability. In the tropics, this period usually coincides with the dry season. Opossums have a very short gestation period, which often lasts no more than 2 weeks, after which several babies are born. They are very tiny, about 1 cm long and weighing about 0.13 g. At birth, many of their organs and systems are not fully formed. Although females have between 4 and 27 mammary glands, many species produce more offspring than they can support, causing large numbers of newborns to die. In general, opossums have a fairly short life cycle. In the wild, they usually live from 1 to 3 years. However, in captivity, many live up to 8 years.

photo: C Passler

Opossums are not aggressive animals and do not cause any harm to people or pets.
They are at various levels of risk according to the IUCN Red List. At least 2 species of Hendley's possum (Marmosops handleyi) and single-striped possum (Monodelphis unistriata) are threatened with extinction due to their small amount of viable habitat. And 7 more species are considered vulnerable, including the Karimi fat-tailed possum (Thylamys karimii), the striped short-tailed possum (Monodelphis umbristriata), the Reiga possum (Monodelphis reigi), the Chaco pygmy possum (Chacodelphys formosa), etc. The conservation status of some other species is still pending estimate. Tags Opossums