Possums Rule

nice sturdy boy

Been a minute since I've done any updates! It's time for some possum posting!

This is April, a Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana who has been with us for just under a year now. D. virginiana are also known as North American opossums, as they're the only marsupials native to North America. While "possum" is a misnomer, it is simply a truncation with the same pronunciation and used interchangeably with "opossum."

Being marsupials, young are born into the pouch where they will nurse until matured. North American opossums have a 13 day gestation period, which at face value may be misleading! Actual time between gestation and weaning from the teat can take up to 50 days, at which point the babies will have opened their eyes.

Due to the rapid rate at which Didelphis virginiana reproduces, it is assumed there is no evolutionary pressure to adapt longer life spans. For this supposed reason, North American opossums have a wild lifespan ranging from 1.5-2 years, while captive North American opossums have a lifespan ranging from 3-4. Some accounts have claimed rare exceptions of captive lifespans up to 10 years, though finding sources is difficult and seem to be anecdotal.

Didelphis virginiana are, perhaps, most famously known for their near inability to carry rabies! This is due to a low ambient body temperature, as a study in "Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 50" demonstrates.

"The opossum, Didelphis marsupialis virginiana, was able to maintain body temperature close to the normal value of 35.46 ± 0.66°C (measured at Ta 25° C) at ambient temperatures ranging from 3 to 35° C" (Abstract, John J. McManus). *This article is unfortunately paywalled, but the abstract provides relevant information.

I cannot find or pick through conclusive numbers as to what temperature rabies dies/stops reproducing/becomes dormant in mammals, but I may be overlooking articles. This does not mean North American opossums are immune to rabies, it is just rare!

Due to exaggerated pupil dilation, North American opossums have poor eyesight in daylight or under bright light. It is a myth that Didelphis virginiana has overall poor eyesight. April can show you here that she means no harm! My hands just smell like food.

Because I can't include two videos in a single post, I'll reblog with a followup about a behavior known as "slubbing."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

basket bab

watercolor on matboard

a hearty home-cooked, sustainable, zero-waste, steaming pot of stew. secret family recipe. black & white version if anyone else would like to color it in:

commission for @littleblublu

Scrunkly

@grimbuswimbus @ninjaofkaos

opossum for naturality

remake of the possums from this post which i grew increasingly dissatisfied by

these ones are cuter :3