Many people use the term “possum” to describe animals, but in North America, this word refers to the opossum. This article clarifies the distinctions between the North American opossum and other animals sometimes mistaken for it.
Understanding the North American Opossum
The animal most commonly called a “possum” in the U.S. and Canada is the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). It has a grayish-white coat, a pointed snout, and a lighter face. Its ears are bare and rounded, and eyes are small and dark. A notable feature is its long, scaly, largely hairless tail, nearly as long as its body.
Opossums have five-toed feet, with an opposable innermost toe on their hind feet, aiding in climbing and grasping. The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial native to North America, raising young in a pouch. Adults are typically house cat-sized, with body lengths from 13 to 22 inches and tails adding 9.8 to 21.3 inches. They adapt to urban, suburban, and rural environments, often near water.
Common Lookalikes and Key Distinctions
Several animals are confused with the North American opossum. Raccoons are often mistaken due to similar size and nocturnal habits. Raccoons have black mask-like markings, bushy tails with rings, stockier bodies with brownish-gray fur, and hand-like front paws. Opossums lack a facial mask and have a bare, scaly tail, with a less robust body.
Groundhogs have a more compact build than the opossum’s elongated body. Their tails are short and bushy, not long and hairless, and their heads are broader, less pointed. While primarily diurnal, they can be seen at dusk or dawn.
Large rodents like rats or muskrats can resemble juvenile opossums. Their overall size is typically smaller, and their tails are thinner and scaly, lacking the prehensile ability of an opossum’s. Muskrats have a flattened, scaly tail adapted for swimming, unlike the terrestrial opossum.
North American opossums differ from Australian possums. Both are marsupials but belong to different biological orders and continents. Australian possums have dense, bushy tails and furrier facial structures. Any “possum” sighted in North America is almost certainly the Virginia opossum.
Behavioral Clues for Identification
Observing an animal’s behavior aids identification. The North American opossum is primarily nocturnal. A well-known defense is “playing possum,” an involuntary catatonic state where the animal appears dead when threatened. This involves lying motionless, secreting a foul odor, and slowing breathing and heart rate.
Opossums are skilled climbers, using their prehensile tails for balance and grip, and opposable hind toes to grasp branches. Their ground gait is a slow, shuffling walk. Their diet is omnivorous, consuming insects, fruits, small animals, and carrion.
Raccoons, also nocturnal, exhibit more agile movements and actively forage, manipulating objects with their paws. Groundhogs are known for burrowing and basking near burrows during daylight. Large rodents scurry quickly, typically associated with urban or aquatic habitats.