Wildlife Quiz - Opossum

The Common Opossum or Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), also known as simply Possum in North America, exists as the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. Possessing a pale face, rounded ears, a pink, pointed nose and a coarse, grizzled gray overcoat the possum closely resembles a rodent. Through seemingly rat like in appearance, possums actually are closely related to the kangaroo and koala. Their adaptive nature, flexible diet, and prolific reproductive habits, make possum’s successful survivors in diverse locations and conditions. Though originally only found in South America, Possums have been steadily moving northward over the last several decades, a trend likely contributed to climate change.

The range of the Possum currently stretches across North, Central, and South America. Adapted to survive in a wide variety of rural as well as urban environments, Possum’s gather together in family groups in underground burrows or even under houses. Being nocturnal (night loving) creatures, Possum’s seek dark, secure areas to sleep during the day where they are protected from predators. The possum has a large number of natural predators including owls, eagles, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, house cats and humans who consistently kill a sizable number each year through automobile strikes. When threatened, the Possum will mimic the appearance and smell of a dead animal. This involuntary response (like fainting), causes the animal's teeth to become bared, saliva to foams around the mouth, its eyes close and a foul-smelling fluid leaks from the anal glands. The animal typically regains consciousness after a few minutes once the threat disappears. Highly prolific breeders, female possums often give birth to very large numbers of young, with as many as thirteen being birthed in a single litter. The possum lifespan is unusually short, with most living only one to two years in the wild and about four or 5 years in captivity.



Wildlife Quiz Questions: 
1. By what other names is the Common Opossum known?
2. What is the native range of the Possum?
3. Describe the physical appearance of a Possum?
4. Being a marsupial, Possums are more closely related to what two Australian animals?
5. What creatures are predators to the Possum?
6. What does the Possum do when threatened by a predator?
7. How long do Possums live?

Wildlife Quiz Answers: 
1. The Common Opossum is also known as the Virginia Opossum and simply Possum.
2. The native range of the possum currently stretches across North, Central, and South America.
3. Possum’s possess a pale face, rounded ears, a pink, pointed nose and a coarse, grizzled gray overcoat.
4. Possums are more closely related to the kangaroo and koala.
5. The possum has a large number of natural predators including owls, eagles, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, house cats and humans who consistently kill a sizable number each year through automobile strikes.
6. When threatened, the Possum will mimic the appearance and smell of a dead animal. 7. The possum lifespan is unusually short, with most living only one to two years in the wild and about four or 5 years in captivity.