Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana 7 Interesting Facts About Virginia Opossums >> Virginia opossums are nocturnal (most active at night). Adaptable; able to live wherever water, food, and shelter exist. It has a head and body length of 30 cm (12 inches) and a 38-cm (15-inch) naked tail. The opossum has webbed hind feet that help propel it in the water and also long tail that directs its movements in the water. A prehensile tail can be wrapped around branches to … Here are some amazing facts about this creature that might change you from an opossum hater to an opossum fan. At 48 days of age, the young opossums detach from the nipples, but they still nurse and sleep with the mother. Updates? Water opossum, (Chironectes minimus), also called yapok or yapock, a semiaquatic, web-footed marsupial (family Didelphidae, subfamily Didelphinae) found along tropical rivers, streams, and lakes from Mexico to Argentina. Yapoks build their nests underground. The entire ventral surface is silvery white. However, they are known to hunker down in their dens to wait out bad weather. Yapoks can be found throughout Central and South America, from Mexico all the way down to Argentina. It is because of their biolo… Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The opossum is only limited in its range due to cold or lack of water and are very adaptable animals. There are more than 60 species of opossum. It is not known when the breeding season is, but females have been found with two to five young in the pouch in July, December, January, February, and March. The water opossum seems to have a history dating as far back as to the Pliocene Epoch. >> When opossums are attacked, they will “play possum,” pretending that they are dead; they remain still, they […] Length 10.6-15.7 in (27-40 cm); weight 21.2-28 oz (600-790g). The colour of the back is silvery gray overlaid by dark brown to black markings on the shoulders, back, hips, and rump, interconnected by a narrow black stripe running from the back of the head to the tail. They Gravitate Toward Water . Opossum Facts. Possums are also native to Papua New Guinea and Sulawesi, and are also found as an introduced species in New Zealand and China. Opossum eyes do have whites and irises, but because their pupils are so large, their eyes appear completely black from a distance. From opposable toes to an ability to feign death in an instant, discover the most fascinating facts about the opossum. The water opossum-the yapok also eats freshwater fish like the crawfish or mollusks. The chilly weather usually leads to frostbite on its hairless tail, paws, or ears. The tail slightly prehensile (grasping) and mostly hairless. While opossums may seem like vermin, they actually make great neighbors. The water opossum, found on the fringes of the South American rainforest and wetlands, is the most aquatic marsupial in the world. It is also the only living marsupial in which both sexes have a pouch. The life span in the wild is unknown, but one water opossum lived 2 years 11 months in captivity. 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. Holocene subfossil fragments of Chironectes have been discovered in São Paulo, Brazil. … Water Opossum. At home in trees; uses its prehensile tail to help stabilize position when climbing— it does not, however, hang by its tail. Normal litters range from seven to 21 offspring, but as many as 50 dime-sized babies may be born in a single litter. >> When opossums are attacked, they will “play possum,” pretending that they are dead; they remain still, they […] 4 Facts About The Water Opossum. [3] This semiaquatic creature is found in and near freshwater streams and lakes from Mexico through Central and South America to Argentina and is the most aquatic living marsupial (the lutrine opossum also has semiaquatic habits). A strong ring of muscle makes the pouch (which opens to the rear) watertight, so the young remain dry, even when the mother is totally immersed in water. In this lesson, you will learn about the yapok's behavior and habitat and we will look at some facts about these interesting creatures. in our animals facts archive. Water Opossums live in southern Mexico and South America. https://www.britannica.com/animal/water-opossum. An opossum faces dire conditions during colder months. in our animals facts archive. The fur is short and dense with a few intermixed longer hairs. The opossum is a marsupial that can be found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.Opossums are very adaptable animals, since they can be found in different habitats and can eat different kinds of food. Learn fast facts about Water Opossums in food plan, habitat, prey, replica, and so forth. Opossums originated in South America and are believed to have entered North America during the Great American Interchange, which is when the continents connected and is believed to have occurred approximately 2.7 million years ago. A pouch is present in both sexes, but only in the female can it be closed to keep the young dry. The largest species of possum is the cuscus. Babies immediately crawl into the mother's pouch, where they continue to develop. The natural habitat of these animals range from subtropical up to tropical territories, and also near freshwater streams. The species that many people think of when hearing about this animal is the common opossum, also known as Virginia opossum. The Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus) or ‘Yapok’ is found in the tropical forests of South America. This behavior … It is most common in northern South America, with documented occurrences in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela (rare), Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Below, explore facts about the Virginia opossum including its habits and how to identify damage. Opossums Are Smart Critters . Water Opossum facts and knowledge. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Its fur has black spot and stripes on gray or light brown. Fernandez, Fernando Antonio dos Santos, et al. Water Opossum facts and knowledge. Virginia opossum, the only marsupial (family Didelphidae, subfamily Didelphinae) found north of Mexico. The water opossum has several adaptations for its watery lifestyle. They Gravitate Toward Water . At home in trees; uses its prehensile tail to help stabilize position when climbing— it does not, however, hang by its tail. The thylacine, commonly referred to as the Tasmanian tiger, also exhibited this trait, but it is now believed to be extinct. An opossum's tail makes up 1/3 of its body length. General Facts » Opossums are, however, highly adaptable. They build their nests along the banks of freshwater rivers and lakes, and they typically live in or near tropical and sub-tropical forests. Of the 100+ opossum species in the world, the most common and recognizable in the United States is the Virginia opossum. The broad hindfeet are webbed and are used for propulsion through water, moving with alternate strokes. From opposable toes to an ability to feign death in an instant, discover the most fascinating facts about the opossum. It has short, dense fur, which is water-repellent. Virginia opossums’ pelts may also be sold commercially. Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana 7 Interesting Facts About Virginia Opossums >> Virginia opossums are nocturnal (most active at night). The water opossum (Chironectes minimus), also locally known as the yapok, an aquatic marsupial are member of the opossum family with black and grey waterproof fur, webbed hind feet and a backward-pointing pouch in both sexes. They sleep during the day in a den in a hollow tree or in an abandoned rodent burrow. The opossum is a successful scavenger, thanks to its adaptability and excellent immune system. The opossum is a successful scavenger, thanks to its adaptability and excellent immune system. in our animals facts archive. The Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus) or Yapok can be found in many parts of the globe, just to mention some: South Mexico, Colombia, Guianas, Venezuale, parts of Brazil and Peru. However, opossums are world-class tree climbers, with sharp claws, opposable thumbs on their hind feet, and a prehensile tail that helps them scale trunks and hang onto branches. Opossum - Water Opossum Facts & Trivia for kids The Water Opossum is also called a yapok. The tail is a little longer than the head and body, densely furred at the base and scaly, nearly naked, and dark brown or black for most of its length except at the tip, which is yellowish white. The most common species are the common brushtail possum and the common ringtail possum. Latra minima (Zimmerman, 1780), Cayenne, French Guiana. The diet of an opossum usually consists of a wide range of plants, fruits, seeds, insects like cockroaches and bugs, small reptiles like lizards, bird eggs, earthworms, and snails. Adults average 70 cm (28 inches) in total length and weigh up to 790 grams (1.7 pounds). 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