Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) From: sunfr8r
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.animals
Subject: Possum
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 21:53:55 GMT
Like the deer, Brer Possum is not thought of as a Florida mammal...But
the Florida Legistlature recently fundede and erected a plaque to this
creature for the role he played in the nourishment of early
settlers...They also serve who are served up for dinner....Hope you
enjoyed the posting...sunfr8r
name="$Possum.JPG"
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Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only marsupial (family Didelphidae) found in North America north of the Rio Grande River. A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, it is a successful opportunist and is found throughout Central America and North America from coast to coast (introduced to California in 1910), and from Costa Rica to southern Canada; it seems to be still expanding its range northward. Its ancestors evolved in South America, but were enabled to invade North America in the Great American Interchange by the formation of the Isthmus of Panama about 3 million years ago. The Virginia Opossum is often seen near towns, rummaging through garbage cans, or lying by the side of the road, a victim of traffic.