Opossum

Virginia opossum

Description

A New World marsupial of the family Didelphidae. The North American, or common possum (Didelphis marsupialis) has a pointy white face and coarse, straight gray fur with a long, prehensile hairless tail.

Synonyms and Related Terms

oppossum (sp); possum; Didelphis marsupialis; Beutelratten Deut., Ned); zarigüeyas (Esp.); tlacuaches (Esp.); zorras mochileras (Esp.); sarigues (Fr.); dydelfowate (Pol.); gambá (Port.);

Opossum fur

Other Properties

Fur fiber is coarse. Guard hair is dense, long, straight, and evenly distributed.

Additional Images

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  Opossum hair

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "opossum." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service 25 Jan. 2005 .

• Edward Reich, Carlton J. Siegler, Consumer Goods: How to Know and Use Them, American Book Company, New York City, 1937

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum (accessed Sept. 7, 2005)