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Revision as of 12:53, 30 March 2002 by Aidan Elliott-McCrea (talk | contribs) (corrected misinformed article.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The word "opossum" (usually pronounced without the leading 'O', or with only a very slight schwa) refers either to the Virginia opossum in particular, or more generally to any of the other marsupials of cohort Ameridelphia.
The name is from Algonquian wapathemwa, not Greek or Latin, so the plural is opossums, not *opossa.
The Virginia opossum is noted for its reaction to threat, which is to feign death. This is called "playing (o)possum".
Though "opossum" is often pronounced, and even spelled "possum", the latter word actually refers various similar animals of cohort Australidelphia, that live in Australia and New Zealand.