They have long, hairless, prehensile tails and feet with an opposable hallux (or thumb) that help them hold on to branches. Opossums can live in rural, urban, and suburban areas, adapting easily to … Search for: Futurity is your source of research news from leading universities. The Virginia Opossum is about 2.5 feet (76 cm) long, including its foot-long, hairless, prehensile (grasping) tail. The Virginia opossum occupies much of the North America and Central America including southern Ontario, Costa Rica, and Rockies. All of Wisconsin is considered prime habitat for the opossum. Didelphis virginiana, the Virginia opossum, is the only extant marsupial that is native to North America.The Virginia opossum is a large didelphid; adult males average 2.8 kg and adult females average 1.9 kg (McManus, 1974). The Virginia opossum is about the size of a cat. 2 , 4, 5 , 11 , 18 , 22 , 24 , 29 Unlike most wild animals, the opossum flourishes in urban areas, and the presence of human settlements actually serves to increase the opossum’s habitat and population size. Virginia opossums can vary considerably in size, with larger specimens found to the north of the opossum's range and smaller specimens in the tropics. The only place in the U.S. where the opossum is not found is in the upper northwest. They range east and west from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and down through Texas and into Mexico (Lyon 1936). Virginia opossums have robust bodies and short legs with sharp claws. The opossum’s population is on an increasing trend particularly in the northwestern range. Opossums have a home range of 50 to 300 acres and often live in forested areas with brushy cover and available water. These marsupials are great climbers. Those found in the north are much larger than those in the tropics. They measure 13–37 in (35–94 cm) long from their snout to the base of the tail, with the tail adding another 8.5–19 in (21.6–47 cm). The Virginia opossum’s range extends throughout the United States, except in extremely mountainous or arid regions. Their underfur is usually whitish and tipped in black, but their coloration varies throughout their range. Opossums inhabit a wide range, from sea level to elevations over 10,000 feet. Open areas usually are avoided, although opossums may make trips into these places to forage. Body length ranges from 13 to 37 inches, excluding the tail, which can add up to 19 inches. Virginia Opossums are 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) long, plus a tail length of 8 to 13 (20 to 33 cm) inches. Virginia opossums are one of the world’s most variably sized mammals. The Virginia opossum ranges north and south from New York to Florida. They have five toes on each foot, the “big toe” on the hind foot lacks a claw but is an opposable thumb, and a pouch for young develops during breeding season on the female. The Virginia opossum has a total of 50 teeth, more than any other North American mammal. Sources vary widely about their weight, with some reporting a range of 4.6 to 6.2 pounds (2.1 to 2.8 kg) and others as high as 8.8 to 13.2 pounds (4 to 6 kg). Although they prefer deciduous woodlands with streams, they use all habitats within their range. The Virginia opossum is built for the tropics, but has been expanding its range northward for about 800,000 years. Males are usually larger than females. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. Weight can range from 11 ounces to … Mexico ( Lyon 1936 ) hairless, prehensile ( grasping ) tail throughout the United States, in... 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