One animal has been known to live 6.6 years in captivity . Life Cycle. Virginia Opossum. They also have a long gripping tail which they use as an additional limb during climbing. The Virginia opossum is unusual in that it has a clawless, opposable ‘thumb’ on each of its rear feet. It is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. The Virginia Opossum has a long head and pointed snout, with long whiskers. 671 Sample size Medium Data quality Acceptable Observations. They have also been observed near roadkill, a hazardous food source as cars barrel down on them. Tail length: 22cm - 47cm. The life cycle of S. neurona is well described. In the United States the Virginia Opossum is referred to as possum. The opossum has an average lifespan of 1 to 2 years. But the reality is that most of us are masters at avoiding confrontation. Mouse. They are found in The Neotropics and The Nearctic. Females carry their young in a fur-lined pouch. Like most marsupials the female Virginia Opossum has a pouch which is lined with fur where the young develop. A female opossum may have 1-3 litters per year. Like most marsupials, opossums are very small when they are born - about the size of a bean. 3. Compared to other mammals, including most other marsupials except dasyuromorphians, opossums have unusually short lifespans for their size and metabolic rate. Scientific Name: Philander andersoni. Category: Opossum. Each litter has four to 25 young that are about 0.5 inches (14 millimeters) long when born. An opossum’s front and rear tracks are usually close together, with the rear track falling on top of or just behind the front track. Anatomy The Virginia opossum is the largest species of the Didelphidae family. It is a successful opportunist. Size Total length: 35cm - 94cm (average 74cm). Clair, Milo and Stella all came to us from different circumstances. Agile gracile oposs... Bare-tailed Woolly ... Black-eared Opossum. Virginia opossums have a fairly short lifespan; wild individuals typically only survive about 1.5 to 2 years. The body is shaped like a large cat and has a long pointed tail with a scaly appearance. Patsy was born the runt in a litter of nine and was rejected by her mother. They are solitary, nocturnal omnivores. There are actually 60 species of opossums, with the common opossum or Virginia opossum being the most common. OUR DATA: We use the most recent data from these primary sources: AnAge, UMICH, Max Planck, PanTHERIA, Arkive, UKC, AKC. They prefer the wet kind but will crunch kibble when this is all eaten. The average Virginia Opossum is about 2 feet in length weighing around 8 pounds; female opossums are smaller than males, with male opossums ranging 12 to 15 pounds. Click to expand. A Virginia opossum female may have as many as 25 babies, but she usually will have between seven to eight. Adult size varies based on population location. During the mating season, the male attracts the female by making clicking sounds with his mouth. This short lifespan is due in part to the presence of many predators including dogs, cats and people. For example, in my new novel, Bridgers 3, one of the bridgers is being warned not to try something (I can't give away too many details), because trying this thing will "steal away your youth’s vigor like possums steal eggs." Some babies … Virginia opossums are ready to begin breeding within the first year of their life, around 6 months for females and 8 months for males, but typically do not begin breeding until 10 months of age. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American opossum, is a marsupial found in North America. LIFE SPAN: 2.3 years. This is actually the only marsupial, meaning pouched animal that is found in Canada and the United States. They are very docile. The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a marsupial, and the only marsupial found north of Mexico. The Virginia opossums are found in the United States and Canada, while relatives representing seventy species of the Didelphidae family live in Central and South America. While the babies are making a sound like a rattlesnal to drive away their predators. The reason opossums have so many babies to insure that some of them survive. The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial found in North America, with its ancient ancestors migrating north from South America when our two continents joined at Panama. They can live no more than 2 to 4 years largely because they haven’t developed a special defense against potential predators. What Eats Possums? In the laboratory, raccoons, cats, armadillos, skunks, and sea otters have been shown to be intermediate hosts. All Time Today Last Week Last Month. In the wild, these animals do not live more than 2 or 3 years. Opossums are good climbers. Virginia opossum tracks in snow. It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat. Early in life, young opossums have a very high mortality rate. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. Virginia opossums have a fairly lifespan. The fur is pale grey with white cheeks. They have a very short lifespan, typically only surviving a year in the wild. The Virginia opossum has a maximal lifespan in the wild of only about two years. On average, Virginia opossums have two litters per year, but this varies depending on their specific location. New Yorkers have a reputation for being brash and outspoken. Family: Didelphidae. They generally grow to be cat-sized, and can be bigger or smaller depending on the region. The opossum has been proven not to be the definitive host of the disease. Let me begin by clarifying… There is no such thing as a domesticated opossum. As a marsupial creature, their lifespan is short, which is uncommon. CLAIR, MILO & STELLA'S STORY. It tends to be the brunt of jokes and is used in derogatory statements. Opossum lifespan. Natural History Information Range and Habitat. Its muzzle is long and pointed, and in its mouth are 50 teeth; more than any other land animal in North America. Common Name: Virginia Opossum Scientific Name: Didelphis virginiana A group of them is called: A passel We just call them: "Clair", "Milo" and "Stella" Size: 34 – 95 cm (length) Weight: .3 – 6.4 kg Lifespan: ~ 2 years (wild), 4 years (captivity) Diet: Omnivore. Life Cycle. 6, 11, 21, 29: Body weight: Adult female: 1.9-2.1 kg 11, 29: Adult male: 2.1-5 kg 11, 29: Cloacal body temperature: 32.2-35°C (90-95°F) 11, 31. In order to complete its life cycle, this parasite needs two hosts, a definitive and an intermediate. Virginia Opossums are a dull gray-brown with the exception of their faces which are white. Like most marsupials, opossums are very small when they are born - about the size of a navy bean. Well, today, we’re going to be taking particular aim at that particular battle between the raccoon brethren and the possums. The adult have a strong tail and used for grip The males will deeply growl and they can raised the growl volume as the danger won’t back off. [15] [22] The Virginia opossum has a maximal lifespan in the wild of only about two years. While they can be an interesting addition to an ambassador collection, keep in mind that they have a short life span (2-4 years in human care), and some individuals may have a propensity to bite. Wild opossums have a relatively short lifespan of approximately 1.5-2 years. The babies climb up the mother's fur and into her pouch where they find a teat. Virginia Opossums have a typical lifespan of 2-4 years in the wild and up to 6 years captivity. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American opossum, ... Life span. If a possum encounters a predator, it falls over and enters a near-catatonic state, even emitting a strong odor. Wikipedia article on Virginia Opossum. Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana Kerr 1792. collect. Opossum vs Possum – Pictures. – What Eats Opossum? The opossum especially for Virginia opossum only live for only two years. They have long, skinny tails that average about 12 inches long. I am guilty of this myself. As any daily commuter will tell you, something truly absurd has to happen in our vicinity to muster much of a reaction. The Virginia opossum’s long muzzle allows its keen sense of smell to detect all sorts of omnivorous delicacies including a wide range of plants, fruits, insects, and other small animals. The Wildlife Center is sad to announce the loss of Delphine the Virginia Opossum on March 5, 2018. [23] Even in captivity, opossums live only about four years. Discover How Long Virginia opossum Lives. Introduction. 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