Virginia Opossum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Virginia Opossum | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Didelphimorphia |
| Family: | Didelphidae |
| Subfamily: | Didelphinae |
| Genus: | Didelphis |
| Species: | D. virginiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Didelphis virginiana (Kerr, 1792) |
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The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), sometimes called a possum, is a marsupial. There are many marsupials in Australia, but the Virginia Opossum is the only North American marsupial.
Description [change]
An opossum is about the size of a house cat. It has grizzled white and gray fur. Adult opossums weigh about 2-6 kg (4-14 lbs). They live alone, are active at night, and they are good climbers.
Habitat [change]
People can find this opossum in the eastern United States, and along the west coast from British Columbia and to Baja California. They like to live in forests, brushy areas, and farmland.
References [change]
- ↑ Cuarón, A. D., Emmons, L., Helgen, K., Reid, F., Lew, D., Patterson, B., Delgado, C. & Solari, S. (2008). Didelphis virginiana. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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Wikispecies has information on: Didelphis virginiana. |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Didelphis virginiana |
