opossum: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)

An adult Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) carries several young on its back while walking outdoors.

A Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) “playing possum.”

Brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus) in the Bigal River Biological Reserve, Ecuador.

Illustrated chart showing the footprints of eight animals-opossum, skunk, raccoon, red fox, woodchuck, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, and muskrat-each with labeled front and hind foot tracks next to a drawing of the animal.

Which mammals have the shortest and longest gestations

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

opossum Didelphimorphia Microbiotheria Paucituberculata Virginia opossum rat opossum mouse opossum four-eyed opossum monito del monte water opossum marsupium Deltatheridium

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.

Ultimate Animals Quiz

Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) in the outback of Queensland, Australia. Marsupial

Know Your Marsupials Quiz

Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz

The cheetah is the fastest land animal over short distances. It has become an endangered species in Africa, and is almost extinct in Asia. Cheetah mother with young. Cheetah cubs

Moms of the Animal Kingdom Quiz

Lion (panthera leo)

Deadliest Animals Quiz

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is seen in Switzerland on December 2024

Animal Factoids