There’s every possibility to find an opossum around the human environment as a result, it is important you know the different kinds of pests that infest your surroundings and the kind of danger they possess. Generally, they are used for crushing and grinding food. An extremely successful animal that has existed for thousands of years, the opossum has an impressive array of 50 teeth, designed both for ripping and grinding. Omnivorous: eats insects, snails, rodents, berries, over-ripe fruit, grasses, leaves, and carrion; occasionally will eat snakes, ground eggs, corn or other vegetables. Opossums' bounteous pearly whites make the little creatures look fearsome, but they aren't necessarily useful in a fight. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other American mammal. The Americas are home to the Common and Virginia opossum. Weiler Woods for Wildlife Interesting Opossum Facts. Opossums have no natural defense against predators even though they can “play … Some opossums can have missing ears, toes, or tails due to frostbite. They can make sounds, including screeches, but are usually quiet. How to identify Opossums. Although they will often bare their teeth in a bluff display to ward off predators, they are really eaters, not fighters. Clean Rat. Opossum facts might surprise you. They have a number of distinguishing characteristics that are typically unknown to the general population. A lot of people are aware that opossums “play dead” when they feel threatened. Scientists estimate that a single opossum can... 2. Well you're in luck, because here they come. The opossum may then resort to heavy drooling to deter predators. They may also begin to drool and blow snot bubbles to appear sick or release bodily fluids in an attempt to ward off any predators. Opossums also use their teeth, particularly their four fangs, as climbing tools. Unlike American opossums, the Australian possums aren’t only comparatively smaller they have got fewer teeth. They are exceptionally non-agressive and non-destructive. It was Captain John Smith who used the term opossum for the first time in 1608. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal, and opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs. Yapok is another name for the species Chironectes minimus,also known as the water opossum. They present a far less health risk than do dogs or cats. It's just a threat display, however, and opossums very rarely bite. 13 Interesting Facts About Opossums 1. The opossum (order Didelphimorphia) is the only marsupial found in the Americas. Their stance is plantigrade which means having their feet flat to the ground. However, the Center for Disease Control reports that in the United States, the vast majority of recorded rabies cases come from the bite of 4 animals - raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. The animal has an opposable thumb on both their front and hind feet. raided chicken coops or poultry houses (opossums will eat eggs and chicks) opossum droppings inside attics, sheds or poultry houses. Opossums have four different types of teeth in their mouths: 18 incisors in the front of the mouth, 16 molars toward the back, four canines -- or fangs -- and 12 premolars, between the canines and the molars. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with "The Pitt News" and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Opossums are well-known for their trick of playing dead. Weiler Woods for Wildlife Opossums are sometimes victims of hunting due to the market for their pelts. It's not that they lack aggressiveness, it's just that they're too stupid to even manage a bite - seriously! Typically grey in colour, opossum fur can also have red, brown, or black hues. When an opossum is "playing possum", the animal's lips are drawn back, the teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, the eyes close or half-close, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. Evening Shift. – Possum Diet and Eating Habits. Opossums have more teeth than any other land mammal. Opossums are great at reducing the tick population in a given area. When threatened, this slow critter often gapes its mouth open, exposing that mouth full of sharp teeth. Its body is grayish-white, while the face is white in color. (4 to 6 kilograms), according to National Geographic. You won’t find either of them in desert or barren areas as they like to hide. Opossums have 13 nipples, arranged in a circle of 12 with one in the middle. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal, and opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs. The Virginia opossum is widespread across the eastern U.S., including all of Pennsylvania, but little is commonly known about the animal. You guessed it: white. A picture of a possum playing dead … I'm excited to share my passion for possums with you. The color of opossum may vary from blackish to pure white. These animals are distinctly slow-moving on the ground, but are formidable climbers -- between their prehensile tails, dextrous paws and gripping fangs, they can easily navigate trees, fences and other elevated areas. Some opossums can have missing ears, toes, or tails due to frostbite. No other mammal in North America has more than 6 upper incisors, but the Virginia opossum has 10. While these teeth are razor-sharp and include four fangs, opossums are slow creatures who simply aren't equipped for battle. They are one of the oldest mammal species on Earth. The only North American marsupial, female opossums have pouches on their stomachs where young are incubated after birth. Consisting of more … Opossums can have up to 50 teeth, more than any other mammal found in North America. I have listed my Top 7 Opossum facts about these amazing creatures! Opossums also have more teeth than any other land mammal with very small incisors, large canines and tricuspid molars (having three cusps or points). Opossums Kill Ticks by the Thousands. Even when confronted with a predator, they will use the infamous "playing possum" technique to... 2. The opossum is a marsupial found in North America. FACT: While the opossum isn’t perfectly immune to rabies, marsupials in general have a lower body temperature than placental animals, meaning their bodies aren’t hospitable to the virus. Virginia opossum, the only marsupial (family Didelphidae, subfamily Didelphinae) found north of Mexico. The Virginia opossum, like all members of the family Didelphidae, has 50 teeth, and the last premolar is the only tooth that is replaced (that is, preceded by a milk tooth) in the adult. 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