Opossums are animals of the Class of Mammals, Order of Marsupials. Marsupials are mammals that have ventral pouches.
They are omnivorous animals, that is, feed From others animals It is vegetables, as fruits It is roots. Their young complete their development cycle in the marsupium, the bag.
They are animals extremely adaptable to the most varied types of environments, found in forests and in urban areas.
Characteristics and species of Opossums
The organisms popularly called possums belong to the genus Didelphis sp., family Didelphideae. In the genus, 5 species are classified that are distributed in North, Central and South America.
They are popularly known saruê, opossum, mucura, timbu or tacaca. These animals appeared at least 100 million years ago. Its most famous name, possum, comes from the Tupi language. gã - ba, which means empty bag, marsupium.
The 5 species and the continents they are found are:
- Didelphis virginiana: found in North America and Central America;
- Didelphis marsupialis: found in North, Central and South America;
- Didelphis aurita: found in South America;
- Didelphis albiventris: found in South America;
- Didelphis imperfecta: found in South America.
These animals travel long distances and remain in an area for a relatively short time, for this reason they are considered animals. nomads.
Possums are extremely important for ecological balance. They are considered controlling agents, as they eat venomous animals, such as snakes and scorpions. A group of researchers from the Butantan Institute carried out experiments to confirm the hypothesis of immunity to the poison.
It was seen, in the experiment, that possums are already born immune to the venom of some snakes. Mainly, native snakes from the same region as them, which suggests a coevolution in this interrelationship.
The researchers observed that the possums prey on (eat) pit vipers, even if they are bitten, without any alteration or toxic effect. However, with snakes from other ecosystems, such as rattlesnakes, their maximum resistance was five bites.
Recently, the predation of giant African snails by opossums was evidenced. This fact confirms the ecological importance of these animals, as these snails are exotic, transmit diseases and unbalance Brazilian ecosystems.
Reproduction of possums (their young)
Possum pups, as well as all marsupial animals, end their development cycle inside the pouch, the marsupium.
It is a true struggle for survival, as a "birth" occurs while still in the embryonic period, without the complete development of all structures.
After about 13 days with their paws already formed, they leave the uterus and go to the marsupium where they find the mother's nipple.
For the first 55 days, the puppy remains attached to the nipple, which reaches directly into its stomach. At the end of this period, with the mouth already formed, they begin to release the nipple.
The lactation period can last up to 100 days, with the pups gradually freeing themselves from their main source of food, the milk released by the nipples.
Curiosity about possums
Like other mammals, skunks have scent glands in their anus. These glands, which release an unpleasant odor, led to the reputation of skunks for smelling bad. However, this process is an evolutionary strategy to scare away possible predators.
The process is known for thanatosis, from the Greek Thanatos = death, osis = state. In other words, thanatosis is a strategy in which the animal simulates its own death.
Their heartbeat slows down significantly, they emit an even stronger odor from their anal glands, and they can stay still for up to half an hour.
See too:
- omnivorous animals;
- Marsupials;
- List of animals from A to Z;
- mammals.
Bibliographic references
CASAGRANDE, Renata Assis et al. Isolation of Salmonella enterica in opossums (Didelphis aurita and Didelphis albiventris) from São Paulo State, Brazil. Rural Science, v. 41, p. 492-496, 2011.
ANDRADE, A., PINTO, SC., and OLIVEIRA, RS., orgs. Laboratory animals: creation and experimentation [online]. Rio de Janeiro: Editora FIOCRUZ, 2002. 388 p. ISBN: 85-7541-015-6.
CASTILHO, Rubens. What are possums, their characteristics and main species.All Matter, [n.d.]. Available in: https://www.todamateria.com.br/gambas/. Access at:
See too
- Marsupials
- mammals
- Tasmanian Devil
- Animals of the Caatinga
- omnivorous animals
- snake louse
- Carnivorous Animals
- Text interpretation exercises
