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| The '''opossum''' (''Didelphis marsupialis'' or ''D. virginiana'') is a ] found in ]. It is often found rummaging through garbage cans or dead by the side of the road. The name is from ] ''wapathemwa'', not ] or ], so the plural is ''opossums'', not ''*opossa''. | The '''opossum''' (usually pronounced without the leading O, ''Didelphis marsupialis'' or ''D. virginiana'') is a ] found in ]. It is often found rummaging through garbage cans or dead by the side of the road. The name is from ] ''wapathemwa'', not ] or ], so the plural is ''opossums'', not ''*opossa''. | ||
| The opossum is noted for its reaction to threat, which is to feign death. This is called "playing possum". | The opossum is noted for its reaction to threat, which is to feign death. This is called "playing possum". | ||
| While marsupial is common in Australia and New Zealand, opossum is the only marsupial found in America. | |||
Revision as of 19:57, 28 March 2002
The opossum (usually pronounced without the leading O, Didelphis marsupialis or D. virginiana) is a marsupial found in North America. It is often found rummaging through garbage cans or dead by the side of the road. The name is from Algonquian wapathemwa, not Greek or Latin, so the plural is opossums, not *opossa.
The opossum is noted for its reaction to threat, which is to feign death. This is called "playing possum".
While marsupial is common in Australia and New Zealand, opossum is the only marsupial found in America.