In addition, both raccoons and opossums have successfully adapted to foraging through garbage for human food. Both species are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, eating a variety of plant and animal matter. Studies have shown that the opossum’s diet and habitat are very similar to raccoons. The Virginia opossum’s range is expanding north, due in part to their ability to adapt to various urban and agricultural landscapes, as well as the rise in global temperatures Piles, abandoned animal burrows, under porches, and inside holes in buildings. They will build their dens in crevices, woodpiles, rock As long as there is a water source and abundant food, they may be found foraging in deciduous forests, prairies, and marshes. The Virginia opossum is not picky when it comes to habitat selection. The most common causes of death are predation and car collisions. They often don’t make it past 2 years of age, unless in captivity, in which case they may live up to 10 years. Virginia opossums have very high mortality rates. After the third month, the babies are fully weaned and independent. During this time, the young will grasp onto their mother’s back and be carried in a “piggyback” fashion. It takes about two months before the babies are able to exit the pouch for short periods. If a mother gives birth to more than 13 babies only those that are able to latch onto a nipple will survive. Females usually have 13 teats arranged in the Their forelegs and sense of smell help them crawl their way to the mother’s nipples (called teats) to continue development inside the pouch. They are about the size of a dime, furless and blind. Virginia opossums have a gestation period of about 11 to 13 days. They have been thought to display social behaviour only when mating, however recent studies suggest that their social behaviour is more complex.Īll marsupial young are born in an underdeveloped state after a short gestation period. Usually, females have one or two litters per year, but can haveĪ third litter if climatic conditions are favourable. Depending on latitudes, they may begin breeding as early as January and birth litters as late as September. Virginia opossums are seasonal breeders with multiple breeding periods per year. Since European colonists arrived in Australia years after arriving in the Americas, they thought possums were opossums due to their physical similarities, and gave them a similar name. The possum is of the order Diprotodontia, native to Australasia, and the opossum is of the orderĭidelphimorphia. However, using the term possum is misleading when referring to opossums. The name “opossum” is an anglicized version of the Algonquian word apasum or apousoum, which means “whiteĪnimal.” The “o” was later dropped and “possum” became the slang name. Level, opossums have a slow, almost wobbly, gait.įemale opossums are called jills, males are jacks, and babies are joeys. The hallux helps to make opossums excellent climbers. Aside from primates, koalas and giant pandas, opossums are the only mammals that have opposable “thumbs.” For opossums, it is their “big toe,” called a hallux, that is opposable.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |