Virginia Opossum
Status Bites Can transmit pathogens on its body
Opossum tracks. Note the lack of a claw on the inner toe of the hind foot.
General Information
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a hairy, heavy- bodied, cat-sized mammal with a large white head, a long narrow snout, black hairless ears, and a long rat-like tail. It walks and climbs with all four limbs and uses its tail to grasp as if it were another hand. Its body fur is gray, about an inch long, and is interspersed with much longer white and gray hairs (about 2.5-3 inches long). It was introduced into California from the southeastern U.S. many years ago and has spread to most coastal and foothill areas of the state. It is now a common resident throughout urban and suburban areas of Orange County and is rarely seen in wilderness areas. Opossums are omnivorous and feed on fruits, nuts, grains, and their eggs, garbage, carrion, and even feces.
Life Cycle
an embryonic state and must climb up their mother’s belly young are weaned from milk and fed solid food provided by the mother. It is common to see a mother carrying her young their mother and strike out on their own. They live a total of two to three years.
What Do They Look Like?
of their mother’s belly. The marsupial group includes familiar animals such as koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. Marsupials
The head and body of an adult Virginia opossum totals about 74 cm (29 inches) long, but ranges from 35 to 94 cm (13-37 inches) long. The tail is another 21-47 cm (8-18 inches) long. opossum on record was 5.9 kg (13 pounds).
humans have 32). Their incisors are small, canines slender and curved, and premolars and molars small and sharp.
point forward, each back foot has four toes that point forward
and can be used to grasp and climb (said to be a prehensile tail).
Orange County Vector Control District
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36