# Virginia Opossum

*Didelphis virginiana*

They have 50 teeth—the most of any North American land mammal—and are naturally immune to most pit viper venoms.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Didelphimorphia › Didelphidae › Didelphis
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Deciduous forests, shrublands, wetlands, and increasingly common in urban and suburban environments.
- **Diet:** Opportunistic omnivore: insects, carrion, fruits, grains, and small vertebrates like snakes or rodents.
- **Range:** United States, Southern Canada, Mexico, Central America
- **Size:** Length: 35-94 cm; Weight: 0.8-6.4 kg
- **Lifespan:** 1 to 3 years
- **Active:** nocturnal
- **Threats:** Vehicle strikes, domestic pets, and habitat loss.
- **Safe to approach?:** Generally harmless and shy. If cornered, they may hiss, growl, or 'play dead' (thanatosis). Maintain a respectful distance of 5-10 feet. Do not attempt to handle, as they may bite in self-defense. If bitten, wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical advice, though they are highly resistant to rabies.

## About

The Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ), commonly known as the North American opossum , is a marsupial found in North America. It is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. In the United States, it is typically referred to simply as a possum . It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat. It is a successful opportunist. It is familiar to many North Americans as it is often seen near towns, rummaging through...

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/11716f95-17fe-410b-976b-cbd646f20aaa
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/42652
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didelphis virginiana
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/64550531/medium.jpeg (Shirley Zundell, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.