Species group · Mammals

Opossums

WAnimals has 5 species of opossum, in the family Didelphidae.

5 species

1 family

45 countries

117 parks

All 5 species of opossums on WAnimals

Each one has its own full profile. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.

5 Least Concern

No species documented in this group is genuinely at risk according to the IUCN, with the data available today.

Recorded in 45 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:

It is famous for feigning death when threatened — "playing possum".
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It eats fruit, insects, small vertebrates and carrion.
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It lives in a wide range of habitats across Central and South America and copes well with towns.
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Isolated populations on predator-free islands have been found to age markedly more slowly than mainland ones.
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It eats fruit, insects, small vertebrates and carrion.
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It lives in woodland, farmland and towns across much of North America.
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The two white spots above its eyes look like a second pair of eyes.
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Its two white patches above the eyes probably work as false eyes: in the dark they confuse a predator as to where the animal is really looking.
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