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The opossum is nocturnal and arboreal. At night it searches for insects, birds, eggs, fruit, etc. It uses its tail for climbing and when attacked it feigns death, giving rise to the origin of the common phrase, playing 'possum.

Opossum

The opossum is nocturnal and arboreal. At night it searches for insects, birds, eggs, fruit, etc. It…

"Opossum, of the marsupial family. Some species have pouches while others do not, and will therefore carry young upon their backs."mdash Beach, 1909

Opossum

"Opossum, of the marsupial family. Some species have pouches while others do not, and will therefore…

"Opossom is the popular name for the pouched mammals which have a geographical range from the United States to Patagonia. They vary from the size of a mouse to that of a large cat, and have long noses, ears, and (generally) naked prehensile tails. The Virginian opossum, common over all temperate America, is the best-known of the family, and is found even in towns, where it acts as a scavenger by night. The crab-eating opossom inhabits Central and tropical South America."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Water Opossom

"Opossom is the popular name for the pouched mammals which have a geographical range from the United…

A possum (plural form: possums) is any of about 69 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi (and introduced to New Zealand and China). The name derives from their resemblance to the opossums of the Americas.

Possum

A possum (plural form: possums) is any of about 69 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species…