North American Opossum
by Wes Iversen
Title
North American Opossum
Artist
Wes Iversen
Medium
Photograph
Description
I spotted this Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) cleaning up underneath a bird feeder at an Illinois nature center on a late winter day. Commonly known as a North American opossum, these critters are said to have been around for some 70 million years, and are one of Earth's oldest surviving mammals. They are about the size of a domestic house cat.
When threatened, opossums are known for "playing possum," by rolling over, stiffening up and appearing to be dead. This guy didn't do that though. After he spotted me, he simply scurried away and disappeared into an opening underneath the nature center building.
Uploaded
December 29th, 2016
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Comments (10)
Shoal Hollingsworth
These are such amazing animals, the only North American Marsupial. Fantastic capture Wes
Mother Nature
F/L Nicely done! We love the critters, even those who are a PIA - LOL - and the o'possums are kind of the ugly cousin that makes up for the lack of looks with charm (yes, charm, even with the hissing).
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