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Possum

A possum, in North American usage, refers to the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), the only marsupial native to the continent and the sole species of its kind found north of Mexico.^[1] This medium-sized mammal typically measures 24 to 37 inches in total length, including its distinctive long, hairless, prehensile tail, and weighs between 4 and 15 pounds, with an average of about 7 pounds for adults.^[2] It features coarse grayish-white fur, a pointed pinkish snout, rounded black hairless ears, and opposable toes on its hind feet that aid in climbing trees and grasping branches.^[1] Note that the term "possum" is sometimes applied more broadly or regionally; in Australia, it denotes unrelated marsupials such as the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) from the family Phalangeridae, which have bushy tails and are native to Australasia.^[3] The Virginia possum inhabits a wide range of environments across the eastern and central United States, southern Canada, and Central America, adapting well to urban and suburban areas near water sources like streams and wetlands.^[4] Primarily nocturnal and solitary, it forages for a diverse omnivorous diet that includes insects, small vertebrates, fruits, nuts, and carrion, thereby serving as a natural pest controller and scavenger that helps reduce disease-carrying ticks and rodents.^[5] Possums possess 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal, enabling them to consume a broad array of foods.^[1] One of the most notable behaviors of the possum is its defense strategy of "playing possum," where a threatened individual may feign death by lying motionless, secreting a foul odor, and allowing its body temperature to drop, deterring predators until the danger passes.^[6] As a marsupial, females carry underdeveloped young in a forward-facing pouch for about two months after a 12- to 14-day gestation period, potentially raising up to 13 joeys per litter multiple times a year.^[1] Despite their adaptability, possums face threats from habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and predation, though their population remains stable across much of their range due to high reproductive rates.^[7]

Opossums (Americas)

Taxonomy and evolution

American opossums belong to the order Didelphimorphia, which contains a single family, Didelphidae, comprising approximately 125 species in 18 genera as of 2022.^[8] This order represents the largest group of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere and the most basal extant marsupial lineage. The family is divided into four subfamilies: Didelphinae (e.g., Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana), Marmosinae (mouse opossums), Sarcodelphinae (e.g., yapok or water opossum, Chironectes minimus), and Caluromyinae (woolly opossums).^[9] Didelphids exhibit polyphyletic traits in some analyses, but molecular phylogenies confirm their monophyly within Metatheria.^[10] The evolutionary history of Didelphimorphia traces back to the Late Cretaceous or early Paleocene, with the oldest undisputed fossils from the Early Miocene of Patagonia (~20 million years ago), though molecular clock estimates suggest divergence from other marsupials around 70–80 million years ago following the breakup of Gondwana.^[11] Opossums originated in South America, where they diversified in isolation after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama ~3 million years ago allowed northward migration to Central and North America. The Virginia opossum (D. virginiana), the only didelphid north of Mexico, likely evolved from South American ancestors like Didelphis marsupialis during the Pleistocene.^[6] Fossil records indicate early didelphids had primitive dentition with 50 teeth, more than any other extant mammal, adapted for an omnivorous diet.^[12] Phylogenetically, Didelphimorphia is the sister group to all other marsupials (Australidelphia), sharing basal traits like epipubic bones and a bifurcated reproductive tract in females.^[13]

Physical characteristics and adaptations

American opossums display considerable morphological diversity, ranging from tiny mouse opossums (Marmosa spp.) at 10–20 cm in head-body length and 10–50 g in weight to larger species like the common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) at 30–50 cm and up to 4 kg.^[14] Most have coarse fur varying from gray to brown, a long, pointed snout, rounded ears, and a prehensile tail that aids in climbing and grasping; the tail is hairless or sparsely haired and can be up to as long as the body.^[1] They possess 50 teeth, the highest number among mammals, with specialized carnassials for shearing and molars for grinding plant matter. Hind feet feature an opposable hallux (thumb-like toe) for enhanced grip, and syndactyly (fusion of digits II and III) for grooming.^[15] Adaptations reflect their opportunistic lifestyle. Many species, including the Virginia opossum, exhibit thanatosis ("playing possum"), feigning death with limpness, foul secretion from anal glands, and reduced heart rate to deter predators.^[16] Large didelphines like Didelphis are immune to pit viper and rattlesnake venom due to neurotoxin-binding proteins in their blood, allowing predation on snakes. The water opossum (Chironectes minimus), the only aquatic marsupial, has webbed hind feet, dense waterproof fur, and a watertight pouch for pursuing fish and crustaceans.^[17] Opossums have excellent low-light vision, a keen sense of smell for foraging, and flexible ankle joints (tibial rotation) enabling backward walking and agile climbing in arboreal or scansorial species.^[18]

Habitat, distribution, and ecology

Opossums in the Americas are distributed from southern Canada to northern Argentina, with the greatest diversity (~90% of species) in South America's tropical forests. The Virginia opossum ranges across the eastern and central United States, southern Ontario, and northern Mexico, while southern species like Didelphis albiventris inhabit savannas and forests from Central America to Uruguay. They occupy diverse habitats including rainforests, dry woodlands, grasslands, mangroves, and urban areas, showing high adaptability to human-modified landscapes near water sources.^[4] Arboreal species prefer tree canopies, while terrestrial ones like larger Didelphis use ground cover and dens in hollow logs.^[19] Ecologically, opossums serve as generalist opportunists, acting as seed dispersers, pollinators via nectar-feeding, and scavengers that consume carrion to prevent disease spread. They control pests by preying on ticks (removing up to 95% of attached ticks without transmission), insects, and rodents.^[20] As prey, they support predators like owls, foxes, and bobcats, contributing to trophic balance. In urban settings, they exploit garbage and compost, aiding sanitation but sometimes conflicting with humans. Climate influences distribution; for instance, Virginia opossums have expanded northward with warming trends since the 1900s.^[21]

Behavior, diet, and reproduction

American opossums are mostly nocturnal and solitary, foraging at night using climbing, scavenging, or hunting skills, and resting in dens, burrows, or tree hollows by day. They communicate via hisses, growls, and scent marking, with minimal social structure except during mating. Territorial males may fight with displays of teeth-baring and screeching. Locomotion varies: arboreal species glide between branches, semi-aquatic ones swim efficiently, and terrestrial forms waddle with a shuffling gait.^[14] The iconic "playing possum" defense is involuntary, triggered by stress, lasting minutes to hours until threats subside.^[6] Their diet is omnivorous and opportunistic, including insects, small vertebrates (frogs, birds, eggs, rodents), fruits, nuts, grains, and carrion; larger species like Didelphis also eat snakes and garbage. In urban areas, they raid compost for vegetables and pet food. Digestive adaptations include a simple stomach and hindgut fermentation for plant matter.^[1] Reproduction is polyestrous, with 1–3 litters per year in temperate regions. Females have a 12–14 day gestation, birthing 5–13 underdeveloped joeys (up to 25 nipples in pouch) that crawl to the pouch for 60–70 days of nursing and development. Joeys emerge furred, ride on the mother's back for 1–2 months until weaning at ~100 days. Lifespan in the wild is 1–2 years due to predation and vehicles, but up to 4 years in captivity.^[22]

Conservation and threats

Conservation status among Didelphidae varies per IUCN Red List assessments as of 2024: the Virginia opossum and common opossum (D. marsupialis) are Least Concern due to wide ranges and adaptability, but ~20% of species (e.g., Marmosops bishopi, Philander andersoni) are Vulnerable or Endangered from habitat loss.^[23] No species are Extinct, but Data Deficient taxa highlight knowledge gaps.^[14] Primary threats include deforestation for agriculture and urbanization in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest, reducing ~30% of suitable habitats since 2000, alongside hunting for fur/meat and roadkill (major mortality for D. virginiana, killing millions annually in the U.S.).^[24] Climate change exacerbates risks through droughts and range shifts, with models predicting 15–25% contraction for tropical species by 2050.^[25] Introduced predators and diseases (e.g., toxoplasmosis) affect populations. Conservation efforts involve protected areas like Amazon national parks, reforestation, and research via the IUCN Marsupial Specialist Group. Species like the yapok benefit from wetland preservation, while monitoring programs track urban expansion impacts.^[26] Genetic studies as of 2025 emphasize maintaining diversity in fragmented populations to enhance resilience.^[27]

Australasian possums

Taxonomy and evolution

Australasian possums belong to the suborder Phalangeriformes within the marsupial order Diprotodontia, encompassing approximately 63 species distributed across six families.^[28] The family Phalangeridae, known as true possums and cuscuses, includes about 25 species in five genera, such as the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), while the family Petauridae comprises around 11 species of gliders and wrist-winged possums, including the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).^[29] These families, along with others like Pseudocheiridae (ringtail possums) and Burramyidae (pygmy possums), highlight the suborder's diversity in arboreal lifestyles, though Phalangeriformes is considered paraphyletic in some molecular phylogenies.^[30] The evolutionary history of Phalangeriformes traces back to the separation of Australia and New Guinea from Gondwana around 50 million years ago, when early marsupials colonized the region and diversified in isolation.^[31] Fossil records from the Miocene epoch (approximately 23–5 million years ago) reveal early possum-like forms with pronounced arboreal adaptations, such as elongated limbs and grasping extremities, as seen in genera like Paljara from Queensland deposits.^[32] These fossils indicate that possum lineages had already developed specialized tree-dwelling traits by the late Oligocene to early Miocene, coinciding with the expansion of Australian rainforests.^[33] Phylogenetically, Phalangeriformes links closely to other Australasian diprotodont marsupials through shared traits like diprotodont dentition—characterized by a pair of enlarged, forward-projecting lower incisors—and syndactyly, the fusion of the second and third pedal digits to enhance grasping.^[34] These features, evident in molecular and morphological analyses, position Phalangeriformes as part of a broader diprotodont radiation that diverged from other marsupial orders around 50–70 million years ago.^[35] A notable example of evolutionary divergence within Phalangeriformes is the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), whose subspecies exhibit genetic structuring across Australian regions, reflecting ancient phylogeographic splits; this species serves as a key model in studies of invasive populations due to its adaptability and range expansion.^[36] Australasian possums share a distant marsupial ancestry with American opossums, with lineages separating over 50 million years ago following the breakup of Gondwana.^[37]

Physical characteristics and adaptations

Australasian possums exhibit significant size variation across species, ranging from the diminutive pygmy possums, such as the eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus), which measure about 10 cm in head-body length and weigh less than 45 g (approximately 0.1 lb), to larger forms like the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), which reach 32–58 cm in head-body length and up to 4.5 kg (about 10 lb).^[38]^[39] This diversity reflects adaptations to diverse arboreal niches, with smaller species often inhabiting dense understory vegetation and larger ones favoring open woodlands. Their tails are generally strong and muscular, aiding balance during climbing, though prehensility varies; for instance, the brushtail possum's bushy tail provides counterbalance but limited grasping ability compared to more fully prehensile tails in ringtail species.^[40] Key morphological features enhance their arboreal lifestyle. Forward-facing eyes, prominent in species like the lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), support binocular vision and are rich in rod cells for enhanced night vision in low-light forest environments.^[41] Hind feet often feature syndactyly, where the second and third toes are fused, an adaptation that facilitates grooming fur and improves grip on rough bark during climbing, as seen in pygmy possums (Cercartetus spp.).^[42] Fur varies from dense and woolly in brushtail possums, providing insulation and camouflage against tree trunks with its silvery-gray tones, to softer, silkier coats in pygmy species that blend into leaf litter.^[40] Unique physiological adaptations enable survival in challenging habitats. In the petaurid subfamily, species like the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) possess a patagium—a gliding membrane of skin stretching from the wrists to the ankles—allowing controlled glides of up to 50 m between trees to evade predators and access resources.^[43] Pygmy possums employ hibernation during periods of food scarcity, entering torpor bouts where body temperature drops to near ambient levels (4–7°C), conserving energy for up to several months, as documented in the mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus).^[44] For digesting tough foliage like eucalyptus, many folivorous possums, including the greater glider (Petauroides volans), rely on hindgut fermentation supported by specialized microbial communities in an enlarged cecum and proximal colon, breaking down tannins and extracting nutrients from low-quality leaves.^[45] Sensory capabilities emphasize olfaction and hearing over vision for nocturnal navigation and social interactions. Possums possess a well-developed olfactory system, with scent glands used for marking territories, while large, mobile ears enable detection of faint sounds from predators or conspecifics.^[46] Vocalizations, including soft chattering and grunts, facilitate communication within groups, particularly in species like the rock-haunting possum (Petropseudes dahli), where calls convey alarm or affiliation despite their infrequency.^[46]

Habitat, distribution, and ecology

Australasian possums, belonging to the suborder Phalangeriformes, are endemic to Australia, New Guinea, and islands such as Sulawesi in Indonesia, where their distributions encompass diverse environments ranging from tropical rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests to arid deserts and semi-arid woodlands.^[47] Many species, particularly in Australia, show a strong preference for eucalypt-dominated woodlands and forests, which provide essential foliage and shelter, though some like the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) exhibit broader tolerance across urban fringes and coastal heathlands. These possums have been introduced to New Zealand, where populations have established successfully in native podocarp-broadleaf forests and exotic plantations. Habitat preferences among Australasian possums are predominantly arboreal, with most species relying on tree canopies, hollows, and epiphytes for nesting and movement, facilitated by adaptations such as prehensile tails and strong grasping limbs; however, a minority, including certain brushtail species, are more terrestrial or scansorial, utilizing ground cover and logs in open habitats.^[48] In fire-prone Australian landscapes, many possum populations demonstrate resilience through behavioral adaptations, such as rapid post-fire recolonization via dispersal into unburnt refuges and exploitation of regenerating vegetation, enabling persistence despite frequent wildfires that alter hollow availability.^[49] Ecologically, Australasian possums play key roles as seed dispersers by consuming and excreting viable seeds of plants like cycads and eucalypts, promoting forest regeneration, and occasionally as pollinators through nectar-feeding on flowers.^[50] They also function as ecosystem engineers via browsing on foliage and bark, which shapes vegetation structure and influences understory diversity in woodlands.^[51] As prey, they support predators including quolls (Dasyuridae) and raptorial birds like the powerful owl (Ninox strenua), contributing to trophic dynamics in their habitats.

Behavior, diet, and reproduction

Australasian possums are predominantly nocturnal and arboreal, emerging at dusk to forage in trees and returning to rest in tree hollows, dreys, or dense foliage during the day. They display territorial behaviors, with individuals using scent glands on their chest to mark boundaries and communicate presence, reducing direct confrontations. In species like the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), social groups form, with multiple individuals sharing nests and exhibiting cooperative care, such as males assisting in carrying young on their backs. Their prehensile tails and partially syndactylous toes facilitate precise climbing and gripping in arboreal environments. The diet of Australasian possums is primarily folivorous, centered on eucalyptus leaves that provide essential nutrients but contain toxic secondary compounds like terpenes and phenolics. To counter these toxins, possums possess induced detoxification mechanisms in their liver, including elevated activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes and glucuronidation pathways, enabling safe consumption of foliage that would be harmful to other herbivores. This specialized folivory is supplemented by fruits, flowers, buds, nectar, and occasional insects or small vertebrates, with some species like ringtails practicing caecotrophy—reingesting soft fecal pellets—to maximize nutrient extraction from fibrous material. Reproduction in Australasian possums is seasonal, peaking in spring to align with resource availability, with females typically breeding once or twice annually. Gestation lasts 16–18 days in brushtail possums (Trichosurus spp.), typically resulting in a single young (rarely twins) that crawls into the mother's pouch to attach to a teat, and 20–26 days in ringtails, resulting in litters of 1–3 underdeveloped young (average 2) that crawl into the mother's pouch to attach to a teat. Pouch development occurs over 4–6 months, during which the joeys grow fur and open their eyes; afterward, they ride on the mother's back for 1–2 months until weaning. In the wild, lifespan averages 3–7 years, influenced by predation, disease, and habitat quality, though many do not exceed 4–6 years. Certain families, such as the Petauridae, exhibit advanced gliding adaptations, with species like the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) capable of covering distances up to 100 meters between trees using their patagium. Smaller petaurids, including sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), employ daily torpor—reducing body temperature and metabolic rate for periods up to 23 hours—to conserve energy during food scarcity or cold nights, while larger species rarely enter such states.

Conservation and threats

The conservation status of Australasian possums varies widely across species, as assessed by the IUCN Red List. For example, the Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) is classified as critically endangered, with its population limited to less than 1,500 individuals due to habitat fragmentation and loss from logging in Victoria's mountain ash forests. In June 2025, a population was discovered in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales—the first known outside Victoria in over a century—potentially aiding recovery efforts.^[52] The mountain pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is critically endangered, with a population exceeding 940 individuals across its two main habitat sites in alpine boulder fields of southeastern Australia as of 2025, where climate warming exacerbates habitat contraction but conservation efforts show signs of recovery.^[53]^[54] In contrast, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is listed as least concern in its native Australian range, though it is managed as an invasive pest in New Zealand.^[55] The southern greater glider (Petauroides volans) holds vulnerable status, threatened by widespread deforestation. Major threats to Australasian possums include habitat destruction from agriculture, mining, and logging, which have reduced old-growth forests critical for denning and foraging.^[56] The 2019–2020 Australian bushfires devastated possum populations, affecting an estimated 3 billion native animals overall, with marsupials like possums suffering high mortality from burns and displacement; studies in 2024 indicate slow recovery, particularly for species reliant on unburnt refugia, as populations in severely affected areas have not rebounded to pre-fire levels.^[57] Predation by introduced foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus) further endangers smaller possums, with these predators responsible for significant declines in medium-sized marsupials across mainland Australia.^[58] Climate-driven changes, including intensified heatwaves and droughts, are prompting range shifts in rainforest ringtail possums, with 2025 research showing physiological stress leading to population declines and potential local extinctions by mid-century without intervention.^[59] Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and restoration within Australian national parks, such as Yarra Ranges and Alpine National Parks, which safeguard key sites for endangered species like the Leadbeater's possum.^[60] Reintroduction programs have successfully bolstered populations of gliders and possums; for instance, brushtail possums were reintroduced to Western Australia's Wheatbelt in 2015, leading to thriving colonies by 2025, while greater glider nest box installations and translocation efforts in New South Wales aim to mitigate logging impacts.^[61] In New Zealand, invasive brushtail possums are targeted through large-scale culling via trapping and poisoning, reducing their numbers by millions annually to protect native ecosystems as part of the Predator Free 2050 initiative.^[62] The 2024 National Recovery Plan for Leadbeater's possum emphasizes fire management and genetic monitoring to enhance resilience amid ongoing climate pressures.^[60] Recent studies highlight genetic diversity loss in isolated possum populations, exacerbated by habitat fragmentation, with rapid declines in heterozygosity observed in species like the mountain pygmy-possum following development pressures.^[63] A 2025 analysis of brushtail possums in Western Australia revealed unexpected subspecies diversity but underscored the risks of inbreeding in fragmented ranges, informing targeted gene flow strategies for conservation.^[64] Dietary specialization in folivorous possums amplifies vulnerability to these threats by limiting adaptive capacity in altered habitats.^[65]

Etymology and terminology

Origin and historical usage

The term "possum" originates from the Algonquian language spoken by the Powhatan people of Virginia, specifically from the word "aposoum" or "opassom," meaning "white animal" or "white beast," referring to the pale fur of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). This Indigenous name was adopted by English settlers in the early 17th century, marking one of the earliest incorporations of Algonquian words into English zoological vocabulary.^[66]^[67] The first documented European use of the term appeared in 1608, when English explorer Captain John Smith described the animal in his accounts of the Jamestown colony, spelling it as "opassom" and noting its peculiar marsupial pouch and nocturnal habits. Smith's reference, drawn from interactions with local Powhatan communities, introduced "opossum" to European audiences through publications like his 1612 work, A Map of Virginia. By the mid-18th century, the word had entered broader English usage, but confusion arose during Captain James Cook's 1770 voyage to Australia, where naturalist Joseph Banks applied "possum" to native marsupials like the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) due to superficial resemblances in appearance and arboreal lifestyle, despite their distant evolutionary relation. This borrowing led to early terminological overlap between American and Australasian species.^[15]^[68] In the evolution of terminology, "opossum" became the preferred formal name in the Americas to denote the Didelphidae family, while "possum" emerged as a colloquial shortening in North American English by the late 18th century and was retained exclusively for Australasian phalangeriforms in regions like Australia and New Zealand. Scientific distinctions solidified in the 19th century through taxonomic work by naturalists; for instance, British zoologist George Harris contributed to clarifying marsupial classifications in 1807 by describing the Tasmanian devil under the opossum genus Didelphis, highlighting morphological differences that later separated American opossums from Australian possums into distinct suborders. This period saw the establishment of genera like Phalanger for Australian species, reducing the initial confusion from exploratory accounts. By the early 20th century, the term "possum" had transcended zoological contexts, entering American slang via phrases like "play possum," which first appeared in 1807 to describe feigning death or inactivity, directly alluding to the Virginia opossum's thanatosis defense mechanism of appearing lifeless when threatened. This idiomatic use, popularized in literature and folklore, reflected the animal's growing cultural familiarity in the United States while underscoring the term's shift from literal to metaphorical application.^[69]^[70]

Distinctions and common confusions

Opossums, belonging to the order Didelphimorphia, are polyprotodont marsupials characterized by multiple pairs of lower incisors and a dental formula of 5/4, 1/1, 3/3, 4/4, resulting in 50 teeth adapted for an omnivorous diet.^[14] In contrast, Australasian possums, part of the order Diprotodontia (specifically suborder Phalangeriformes), exhibit diprotodont dentition with a single pair of lower incisors and typically 34 teeth, often specialized for folivory through high-crowned molars suited to processing tough leaves.^[71] While opossums are primarily terrestrial, scansorial, or semi-aquatic without adaptations for gliding, many Australasian possum species, such as sugar gliders and greater gliders, possess patagia—membranous skin folds enabling powered glides of up to 50 meters between trees.^[14]^[72] The term "possum" creates terminological confusion due to its regional usage: in Australia and New Zealand, it exclusively denotes native diprotodont marsupials like the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), whereas in the United States, "possum" is a colloquial shorthand for the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and related didelphimorphs.^[67] Post-2010 genetic studies, including multi-gene phylogenies, have confirmed that opossums and Australasian possums belong to distinct suborders within Marsupialia—Didelphimorphia and Phalangeriformes, respectively—arising from separate evolutionary radiations rather than close relatedness.^[73] These analyses resolve earlier uncertainties, placing American opossums as an early-diverging lineage basal to other marsupials.^[73] A common misconception portrays opossums and possums as closely related or interchangeable, often assuming shared ancestry due to superficial similarities like pouches and nocturnal habits, despite their divergence around 70 million years ago.^[74] Media errors, such as documentaries conflating the two groups' behaviors or habitats, exacerbate this by depicting "possums" playing dead—a trait unique to some opossums—or attributing gliding to American species.^[75] Recent IUCN efforts, including 2022 specialist group reports and taxonomic checklists as well as ongoing assessments through 2025, urge precise nomenclature in conservation assessments to prevent misprioritization of threats, as seen in updated Red List evaluations distinguishing New World opossum vulnerabilities from Australasian possum declines due to habitat loss.^[76]^[77]^[78]

Cultural and human interactions

Role in indigenous cultures and folklore

In Native American traditions, particularly among the Cherokee, the opossum serves as a prominent trickster figure in folklore, embodying mischief and clever deception to outwit adversaries.^[79] Similarly, Choctaw stories feature the opossum as a trickster who employs cunning strategies, such as tricking wolves through feigned vulnerability, to ensure survival against stronger foes.^[80] These narratives highlight the opossum's symbolic role in promoting adaptability and resourcefulness, drawing from its observed behaviors like feigning death to evade danger.^[81] Among Aboriginal Australian peoples, possums hold significance as totemic animals in Dreamtime narratives, where they represent adaptability and nocturnal wisdom within spiritual frameworks.^[82] These stories, passed down orally, often depict possums as guides in ancestral journeys, emphasizing their role in clan identity and connection to Country.^[83] In pre-colonial indigenous societies of both North and South America, opossums provided a vital food source, with archaeological evidence confirming their status as a dietary staple for Native American groups due to their abundance and nutritional value.^[84] Aboriginal Australians similarly hunted possums for meat and utilized their fur to craft cloaks for warmth and cultural ceremonies, techniques transmitted through oral traditions involving tree-climbing and smoke-smoking to flush animals from hollows.^[85] Additionally, in various indigenous contexts, opossum fat has been applied medicinally for skin ailments and inflammation, reflecting practical knowledge of its emollient properties.^[86] Cross-culturally, the opossum's "playing dead" behavior inspires folklore motifs of strategic evasion in both American and Australian indigenous tales, serving as a metaphor for survival through deception rather than confrontation.^[87]

Modern uses, pests, and human conflicts

In contemporary contexts, the fur and leather from the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) support a notable industry in New Zealand, where pelts are harvested as a byproduct of pest control efforts and processed into luxury apparel, accessories, and textiles blended with merino wool for items like gloves, hats, and scarves.^[88] This trade generates annual retail sales of $100–150 million, primarily through exports, though it remains tied to conservation-driven culling rather than dedicated farming.^[88] In contrast, the use of Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) fur and leather for apparel in the United States has significantly declined due to broader shifts away from wild fur sourcing and animal welfare concerns in the fashion industry.^[89] Opossum meat continues to feature in Southern U.S. cuisine, particularly among rural and traditional communities, where it is prepared by roasting, stewing, or smoking, often with sweet potatoes, reflecting historical influences from Indigenous, African American, and European settler foodways.^[90] Consumption remains niche and seasonal, tied to hunting during fall and winter, though it is not a commercial staple.^[91] Brushtail possums, introduced to New Zealand from Australia, are classified as a major pest species due to their extensive damage to native forests, crops, and orchards, where they browse leaves, fruits, and flowers, leading to defoliation and biodiversity loss.^[92] The economic impact of biological invasions in New Zealand, including possums, totals approximately US$69 billion (NZ$97 billion) over the past 50 years, with annual damage costs averaging about US$120 million across all invasive species; possum control alone costs the government around NZ$110-150 million (US$65-90 million) per year as of recent estimates, including billions allocated to forestry and agriculture protection.^[93]^[39] In 2024, poisoning programs using 1080 toxin were intensified across multiple regions to curb possum populations, amid concerns over emerging resistance in some brushtail lineages.^[94] Virginia opossums, while beneficial in natural ecosystems, are often viewed as urban nuisances in North American cities, where they raid garbage bins, compost piles, and pet food sources, scattering waste and occasionally entering attics or sheds for shelter.^[95] Human-opossum conflicts in the United States are exacerbated by high roadkill rates, with estimates indicating around 19 million Virginia opossums killed annually by vehicles, contributing to their population pressures and ecological disruptions.^[96] Opossums can serve as vectors for diseases such as leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through their urine contaminating water or soil, posing risks to humans and pets in urban settings.^[97] However, they provide a counterbalancing benefit by consuming large numbers of ticks, including those carrying Lyme disease bacteria; opossums groom and kill many ticks that latch onto them, with laboratory studies indicating they remove and kill over 90% of attached ticks through grooming (though they discard rather than eat them), and their role in reducing tick populations and Lyme disease transmission in the wild remains under debate but is generally beneficial in suburban areas.^[98]^[99] In New Zealand, brushtail possum conflicts extend to agriculture and public health, as they damage up to 30% of foliage in some pine plantations and act as reservoirs for bovine tuberculosis, threatening the dairy export industry valued at NZ$16 billion.^[100]^[101] Urban management of Virginia opossums typically involves humane trapping and exclusion methods, such as securing garbage lids and sealing entry points, rather than relocation, which is illegal in most U.S. states due to high post-release mortality rates from stress and unfamiliar territory.^[102] Where permitted, professionals may transport opossums at least 5 miles to suitable habitats, but on-site release or deterrence is preferred to minimize harm.^[103] In Australia, where native possums are protected, ecotourism promotes non-invasive viewing through guided night tours and spotlighting in national parks, allowing observation of species like the common brushtail in their natural habitats without disturbance.^[104] Recent 2025 policies in New Zealand emphasize humane culling under the National Predator Control Programme, integrating ground-based trapping, toxin operations, and monitoring in forests like Ōhau to balance biodiversity protection with animal welfare standards; as of 2025, operations including aerial 1080 drops in national parks like Rakiura and Kahurangi continue to target possums, with ongoing monitoring for toxin resistance.^[105]^[106] In Australia, updated regulations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act reinforce protections against culling, focusing instead on habitat preservation to mitigate human-wildlife overlaps.^[107]

In popular culture

Film and television

In film, possums and opossums frequently appear in animated features as comic relief characters, leveraging their distinctive behaviors for humor and narrative depth. In the 2006 DreamWorks Animation film Over the Hedge, the opossum family, particularly Ozzie (voiced by William Shatner) and his daughter Heather, serves as a humorous subplot, with Ozzie's frequent "playing dead" antics providing slapstick moments amid the heist comedy involving suburban wildlife.^[108] This portrayal draws briefly from the animal's real defensive mechanism of thanatosis, emphasizing survival through deception. Similarly, in the *Ice Age* franchise, the opossum brothers Crash and Eddie (voiced by Seann William Scott and Josh Peck) recur as energetic sidekicks, showcasing resilience and mischief in adventure settings, as seen in Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) and the spin-off The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022). Television representations often treat possums as gag elements or symbols of urban adaptability. In the animated series The Simpsons, the episode "Marge vs. the Monorail" (Season 4, Episode 12, 1993) features a family of opossums discovered living in a monorail fire extinguisher cabinet, with Homer naming the largest "Bitey" in a nod to their pest-like persistence and Homer's chaotic household.^[109] The Australian children's show Bluey incorporates native possums in lighthearted wildlife references, such as the Season 1 episode "Hospital" (2018), where a pretend X-ray reveals a possum in Bandit's "belly," blending imaginative play with subtle nods to local fauna. These depictions highlight possums' underdog status, portraying them as scrappy survivors navigating human-dominated environments. Documentaries have showcased possums' ecological roles, focusing on their behaviors and vulnerabilities. The BBC series Life of Mammals (2002), narrated by David Attenborough, explores Australian possums in the episode "A Winning Design," detailing their marsupial adaptations, arboreal lifestyles, and reproductive strategies in diverse habitats like eucalyptus forests.^[110] More recently, conservation efforts post the 2019–2020 Australian bushfires are highlighted in wildlife specials, such as the PBS Nature episode "Australian Bushfire Rescue" (2020), which covers rehabilitation of affected marsupials including possums, underscoring their resilience amid habitat loss from wildfires that killed or displaced billions of animals. Thematically, possums in visual media symbolize resilience and cunning survival, often as underdogs or opportunistic pests who thrive despite adversity, a motif amplified in animation where their wide-eyed expressions and flexible bodies allow for exaggerated, empathetic portrayals.^[111] This dominance in animated formats stems from their ability to represent adaptability in family-friendly stories, contrasting with rarer live-action roles that lean into horror or realism, as in the psychological thriller Possum (2018), where the creature evokes isolation and repressed trauma.

Music and literature

In music, the 1994 song "Possum Kingdom" by the American rock band Toadies employs the possum as a metaphor for obsessive pursuit and dark fixation, drawing from the eerie atmosphere of Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas to evoke a stalker's internal monologue.^[112] Australian folk traditions feature possum themes in bush ballads and children's songs, such as "The Possum," an early 20th-century tune written by Maybanke Anderson and set to the melody of "Nelly Bly," which humorously depicts the nocturnal habits of the common brushtail possum in rural life.^[113] Literature often portrays possums as symbols of resilience and rural hardship. In Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling, set in the Florida scrublands, opossum hunts are integral to the Baxter family's survival, illustrating the harsh realities of frontier living and the bond between young protagonist Jody and the natural world.^[114] Similarly, Mem Fox's 1985 Australian children's book Possum Magic centers on a young brushtail possum named Hush who becomes invisible through bush magic, using the animal to explore themes of identity, family, and Australian landscapes in a whimsical narrative that has become the country's best-selling picture book.^[115] Poetry draws on possum imagery to evoke spiritual and survival motifs. Some Indigenous Australian Dreamtime stories feature possums as ancestral beings connected to the land, representing adaptability, as in Warlpiri traditions.^[116] In U.S. Southern literature, possum references appear in trickster tales like Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus stories (1881 onward), where Brer Possum embodies cunning survival through feigned death and evasion, influencing idioms like "playing possum" in narratives of endurance amid adversity.^[117] Recent young adult literature expands possum themes into conservation narratives. Julie Murphy's 2021 children's book Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths follows a mountain pygmy-possum's yearly cycle, highlighting ecological interdependence with bogong moths and the threats of climate change to this endangered Australian species, blending adventure with environmental advocacy.

Notable people and characters

Real individuals

Peter Raymond George Bourne (1956–2003), known as "Possum" Bourne, was a renowned New Zealand rally driver whose nickname originated from a teenage accident in which he rolled his mother's car while swerving to avoid a possum on the road.^[118] Bourne achieved significant success in motorsport, winning the New Zealand Rally Championship in 1991, the Australian Rally Championship seven times (1996–2002), and the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship three times.^[118] He was particularly noted for his performances in Subaru vehicles, including top-six finishes in multiple World Rally Championship events in New Zealand, and was inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2016.^[119] Bourne's career highlighted his skill in handling challenging gravel and forest stages, often drawing comparisons to the elusive nature of the animal after which he was named.^[120] Haywood Shepherd Hansell Jr. (1903–1988), a U.S. Army Air Forces general nicknamed "Possum" during his time at Sewanee Military Academy—likely due to his facial features resembling the marsupial—was a key figure in strategic bombing during World War II.^[121] As commanding general of the XXI Bomber Command in the Pacific Theater from 1944 to 1945, Hansell oversaw precision high-altitude bombing raids on Japan using B-29 Superfortress aircraft, emphasizing industrial targets to cripple enemy production without widespread civilian destruction. His approach, rooted in pre-war advocacy for daylight precision bombing, influenced early successes like the raids on the Musashino aircraft factory, though he was relieved of command in January 1945 amid operational challenges.^[121] Hansell's legacy includes co-authoring foundational air power doctrines and later serving as a senior executive in the aerospace industry. George Glenn Jones (1931–2013), the legendary American country music singer known as "The Possum," earned his nickname in the late 1950s from disc jockeys who likened his upturned nose, beady eyes, and crew-cut hairstyle to the features of an opossum.^[122] Over a career spanning six decades, Jones released more than 60 albums and charted nearly 170 singles, including classics like "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980), which is widely regarded as one of the greatest country songs ever recorded.^[123] His emotive tenor and ability to convey heartbreak earned him accolades such as induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and multiple Grammy Awards, solidifying his status as "The Rolls-Royce of Country Music."^[124] George Bostic Whitted (1890–1962), an early 20th-century Major League Baseball utility player nicknamed "Possum" for his backwoods tales of hunting the animal and his docile, retiring personality akin to the creature's traits, played from 1912 to 1922 across teams including the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves.^[125] Whitted appeared in 40 or more games at every position except pitcher and catcher, a rare feat for his era, and contributed to the 1914 "Miracle" Boston Braves' World Series victory with a .262 batting average in 66 games with the Braves that season.^[126] His versatility and speed—he stole 147 bases in the minors before his MLB debut—made him a valuable role player, later transitioning to coaching and scouting until his death.^[126]

Fictional characters

One of the most iconic fictional possums is Pogo, the central character in Walt Kelly's comic strip Pogo, which was syndicated from 1948 to 1975. Set in the Okefenokee Swamp of Georgia, Pogo is portrayed as a gentle, philosophical opossum who navigates the absurdities of life among a cast of anthropomorphic animals, often delivering satirical commentary on politics, society, and human folly through witty dialogue and folksy wisdom.^[127] The character originated in Kelly's 1941 story for Animal Comics #1, where Pogo first appeared alongside Albert the Alligator, evolving into a symbol of naive optimism amid chaos.^[128] In early 20th-century children's literature, Unc' Billy Possum serves as a clever, resourceful protagonist in Thornton W. Burgess's The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum (1914), depicting him as a family man and trickster who outsmarts forest predators while teaching lessons on community and survival in the Green Forest.^[129] This portrayal highlights possums as adaptable survivors, a theme echoed in modern works like Ethan Nicolle's Brave Ollie Possum (2019), where a fearful boy is transformed into an opossum by a witch and learns bravery by allying with woodland creatures to face supernatural threats.^[130] Contemporary comics feature possums in more adventurous roles, such as Poppy O'Possum, the titular heroine of Jerry "Fleece" Smith's webcomic Poppy O'Possum (2012–2018), an ultra-strong single mother opossum who protects her daughter in a magic-infused, post-apocalyptic world divided by species prejudice and technological decay.^[131] In video games, Awesome Possum emerges as an eco-hero in the 1993 Sega Genesis platformer Awesome Possum... Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt, where the anthropomorphic opossum uses acrobatic abilities to dismantle polluting robot factories and combat environmental destruction led by the villainous Dr. Machino.^[132] Fictional possums are frequently anthropomorphized to embody mischief, cunning resilience, or sage-like insight, often inspired by real opossum traits like feigning death to evade danger. These depictions trace an evolution from whimsical, moralistic figures in mid-20th-century strips and books to empowered protagonists in 21st-century interactive media, reflecting shifting cultural views on adaptability and underdogs.^[127]

Other uses

Place names and brands

Several geographic locations worldwide bear names derived from the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) or the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), reflecting local wildlife observations or cultural associations with these marsupials. In the United States, Possum Trot is a small unincorporated community in southeastern Shelby County, Texas, established in the late 19th century as a rural settlement near the Louisiana border.^[133] Similarly, Possum Kingdom Lake, a 17,000-acre reservoir on the Brazos River in Palo Pinto County, Texas, was named in the early 20th century after abundant opossum populations in the surrounding rugged terrain, which early settlers and developers noted during land promotions.^[134] In Australia, Possum Valley is a high-altitude rainforest area near Ravenshoe in Queensland, known for its accommodations and wildlife viewing, with the name originating from frequent sightings of native possums in the dense vegetation.^[135] Commercial brands incorporating "possum" often draw from the animal's perceived resilience or local fauna, particularly in regions where possums are native or introduced. Possum Ltd., a UK-based company founded in 1961, specializes in assistive technology products such as environmental control systems and switches designed for people with disabilities, enabling independent living through simple interfaces like chin-operated controls.^[136] In Australia, Possums Vineyard in McLaren Vale, South Australia, produces wines including Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from estate-grown grapes, with the brand name evoking the local brushtail possums that inhabit the vineyards; the winery was acquired by Dowie Doole in 2018.^[137] Additionally, Mitchelton Winery released a premium collection in 2021 featuring labels illustrated by Indigenous artist Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi, blending possum motifs with traditional Dreamtime storytelling to highlight cultural heritage.^[138] In New Zealand, where brushtail possums are an invasive pest, brands such as Ecowool and Untouched World have utilized possum fur blended with merino wool for sustainable clothing and textiles as of 2025, promoting eco-friendly products that support pest population control and environmental conservation.^[139]^[140]

Slang, idioms, and acronyms

The idiom "play possum" refers to pretending to be asleep, unconscious, or dead in order to avoid detection or confrontation, a practice directly inspired by the opossum's defensive behavior of thanatosis, where it feigns death when threatened.^[141] This expression originated in the early 19th century in the United States and has since entered broader English usage to describe feigning ignorance or inactivity.^[142] In Southern United States slang, "possum" can denote a sneaky or evasive individual, drawing from the animal's nocturnal and elusive habits, while in some contexts it serves as a term of endearment akin to calling someone "cute" or "cuddly" due to the creature's small, furry appearance.^[143] The acronym POSSUM stands for Patient Operated Selector Mechanism, an early assistive technology developed in the 1960s by engineer Reginald Maling in the United Kingdom to enable individuals with severe disabilities, such as tetraplegia, to control electrical devices like lights, phones, and typewriters using minimal physical input, such as sip-and-puff switches; it was later rebranded to evoke the Latin "possum" meaning "I can."^[144] In military contexts, POSSUM has been used as a radio callsign for reconnaissance operations, including by the Australian Army's 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight during the Vietnam War, where it designated Sioux helicopters for aerial scouting and search missions.^[145] The term "possum" has appeared in hip-hop lyrics during the 2010s to evoke themes of evasion or resilience, as in Earl Sweatshirt's 2018 track "Playing Possum" from the album Some Rap Songs, where layered spoken-word samples and beats reference hiding or introspection amid personal struggles.^[146] Post-2020, possum imagery surged in internet memes, often portraying the animals as anxious, screaming, or trash-diving avatars of chaotic everyday life, with viral examples like the "screaming possum" format gaining traction on platforms such as Instagram and Reddit during the COVID-19 era.^[147]

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[78]
Brushtail possum damage and abundance in a New Zealand Pinus ...
Aug 5, 2025 · Damage levels varied markedly (0%-30%) between 36 plantation blocks. The majority of possum damage involved needle clipping and damage to ...
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[PDF] Costs of control of vertebrate predators by New Zealand regional ...
Possums are the main wildlife host of bovine tuberculosis (TB), a zoonotic disease that threatens market access for New Zealand's NZ$16.0 billion beef, dairy ...<|separator|>
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Should I trap and relocate opossums? in New York - WildlifeHelp.org
Transport and release of opossums is illegal in most states and is not recommended because survival of released animals is often severely reduced.Missing: urban | Show results with:urban
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Opossums | NWCTP - National Wildlife Control Training Program
If translocation of opossums is legal in your state, transport them at least 5 miles away from the capture site, and release them into suitable habitat.
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Nocturnal Wildlife | 'Spotlighting' Tours with Wild Watch Australia
'Spotlighting' Tours to watch Australia Nocturnal Wildlife can be arranged specifically to your interests. Book your 'Spotlighting' Tour today.
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Predator control operations 2025 - Department of Conservation
Our National Predator Control Programme protects native wildlife and forests at important conservation sites across New Zealand. Our goal is for healthy ...
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DOC Possum Control Ōhau Forests - Begins 18 August 2025
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has granted a new Permission for ground-based vertebrate toxin and kill trap operations to continue for the control and ...
[85]
[PDF] Management Plan for the Commercial Harvest and Export of Brush ...
Distribution and Habitat The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, Kerr), is the most familiar and abundant of the Australian possums. The species is ...Missing: policies | Show results with:policies
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Over the Hedge (2006) - IMDb
Rating 6.7/10 (199,241) Steve Carrell also stands out as the absolutely insane Hammy the squirrel, as does William Shatner as Ozzie the possum. As I had read before seeing the film, ...Full cast & crew · Bruce Willis as RJ · Open Season · Garry Shandling
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"The Simpsons" Puffless (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb
Rating 6.9/10 (1,324) Puffless is a great Simpsons episode with a well written storyline and loads of very funny scenes. It's an enjoyable episode that nods back to several older ...
[88]
The Life of Mammals, A Winning Design - BBC
David Attenborough looks at why mammals are the world's most successful creatures. He visits Australia to study marsupials and mammals that have wombs.Missing: opossums | Show results with:opossums
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Opossum Archetype Meaning & Symbolism
The Opossum's 'playing dead' act isn't cowardice: it's a calculated maneuver, a form of deception that allows it to outwit larger, stronger adversaries.Missing: cultural metaphor
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Mental Health Issues As Addressed by 11 '90s Pop Rock Songs
Nov 24, 2020 · ... song, “Possum Kingdom” is less ambiguous as to its intent. The entire song is nothing less than the internal monologue of an obsessive ...
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The Possum - Australian Children's Songs - Mama Lisa's World
The Possum is sung to the tune of Nelly Bly. It was written by Maybanke Anderson (1845 - 1927) and published in Australia Songs for Australian Children.Missing: bush | Show results with:bush
[92]
https://academic.oup.com/jipm/article/11/1/8/5850062
[93]
Possum Magic - Mem Fox
Possum Magic became and remains the best-known picture book in Australia and the best selling picture book ever in this country. It's still in hardback, which ...
[94]
Spirit Song : A Collection of Aboriginal Poetry | AustLit
Jul 16, 2015 · 'In this collection of contemporary poems for children, thirty-five Aboriginal poets write about what it means to be Aboriginal today.Missing: possums | Show results with:possums<|separator|>
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Uncle Remus, By Joel Chandler - Project Gutenberg
Uncle Remus initiates the little boy, II. The wonderful tar baby story, III. Why Mr. Possum loves peace, IV. How Mr. Rabbit was too sharp for Mr. Fox.
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Peter "Possum" Bourne (1956-2003) | Subaru of New Zealand
On eight occasions Possum was the first New Zealand driver on the World Championship Rally of New Zealand, finishing in the top six on several occasions against ...
[97]
Peter 'Possum' Bourne | Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame
Possum won the New Zealand rally championship, the FIA Asia Pacific championship three times and, spectacularly, the Australian Championship eight times.
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Possum Bourne – it was a privilege to know you - RallySport Magazine
Apr 26, 2018 · The name “Possum” simply meant one thing – the guy who drives the blue Subaru really fast. In fact, such was Possum's stature in Australia that many Aussies, ...
[99]
[PDF] The Quest. Haywood Hansell and American Strategic Bombing in ...
Maj Gen Haywood "Possum" Hansell Jr. was the first legendary airman from the interwar years and World War II I had the opportunity to meet on a personal basis.
[100]
Why Is George Jones Called "Possum" and "No Show Jones?"
Dec 7, 2023 · First up, we have Possum. Jones picked up the nickname from a couple of deejays, T. Tommy Cutrer and Ralph Emery, early on in his career. Cutrer ...
[101]
'The Possum' and 'No Show Jones': The Stories Behind George ...
Aug 7, 2025 · George Jones shares insight on the stories behind the two famous nicknames he picked up throughout his career, "Possum" and "No Show Jones."
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George Jones
Often referred to as “The Possum,' George Jones' unorthodox road to fame started in Beaumont, Texas, where he played for tips on street corners. He later joined ...
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Possum Whitted – Society for American Baseball Research
George Bostic “Possum” Whitted,1 one of only five major leaguers to have played at least 40 games at every position except pitcher and catcher.
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George Whitted Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More
George Whitted ; Name Note: Name presented as Possum Whitted in some sources ; Positions: Outfielder, Third Baseman and First Baseman ; Bats: Right ; Throws: Right.
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The Most Controversial Comic Strip - JSTOR Daily
Sep 8, 2018 · In the 1950s, Walt Kelly's comic strip about a cute opossum named Pogo was syndicated by over 450 newspapers. It was also frequently censored.
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Pogo Possum (1949-1954 Dell) comic books - MyComicShop
4.9 109 · $12.95 deliveryScripts and art by Walt Kelly. "Fire Bugs"; Albert and Pogo run a fire station, and get called to a fake fire, the fire engine getting confused with a gunboat.
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The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum by Thornton W. Burgess
"The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum" by Thornton W. Burgess is a delightful children's book written in the early 20th century. This tale is part of a ...
[108]
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327084/
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Poppy O'Possum
You can learn more about the comic here,. start reading from the beginning,. or check out the last update – Poppy 8, page 34 (11/02/18).ComicsArchiveLinksAboutStory 2
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Awesome Possum Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt (1993) - MobyGames
Fight Dr. Machino's robots and liberate the Earth! This is an action platformer very similar in gameplay style to Sonic games.<|separator|>
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Possum Trot, TX - Texas State Historical Association
Possum Trot is a small, rural, predominantly black community in southeastern Shelby County, near Huxley, that likely originated in the late 19th century.
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Possum Kingdom Lake - Morris Sheppard Dam
Possum Kingdom Lake covers an area of 16,716 acres with 219 miles of shoreline. The reservoir holds approximately 540,000 acre-feet of water with 230,750 acre- ...
[113]
https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=2721
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Possum: Home
For over half a century we have been at the forefront of supplying advanced Assistive Technology (AT) and Telecare to help disabled people and the elderly live ...Products · Contact Us · Assistive Technology · Telecare
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Possums Vineyard | Australian Wine Companion
Possums Vineyard has two vineyards in McLaren Vale - one at Blewitt Springs, the other at Willunga - covering shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay.
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Mitchelton releases premium wine collection featuring indigenous ...
Dec 14, 2021 · Mitchelton is set to release a premium collection of wines showcasing the work of leading Indigenous artist, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi.<|separator|>
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Play possum - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
play possum. 1 pretend to be asleep or unconscious when threatened. 2 feign ignorance. This expression, recorded from the early 19th century in the USA, refers ...
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History of Play possum - Idiom Origins
Play possum. To play possum is to lie low, feign ignorance or inattention, with intent to deceive. In extreme situations it also means to feign death.
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Possum – Appalachian & Southern Word for Opossum - Hillbilly Slang
Sep 1, 2025 · In Appalachian and Southern speech, “possum” is the everyday word for opossum, a marsupial known for grinnin' teeth and sneakin' into ...Missing: endearment | Show results with:endearment
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Possum in your roof? - Backyard Buddies
Possums live in trees and often come down to look for food. A possum may move into your roof if they can't find a suitable home outside.
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Who Invented the Possum? What Historians Can Learn from ...
Feb 29, 2024 · Originally called Patient Operated Selector Mechanism (POSM), the acronym was expanded to correspond with the Latin word for "I can," that is, ...
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161 INDEPENDANT RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT (POSSUMS)
The Australian Army decided to deploy its own aviation element with 1RAR so the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight was formed and deployed in September.
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Album Review: "Some Rap Songs" By Earl Sweatshirt - KZSC
Dec 18, 2018 · ... lyrics like, “Say goodbye to my openness, total eclipse of my shine ... “Playing Possum” is a spacey track where Earl layers recordings ...Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
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Screaming Possum Madness (40 Possum Memes) - Cheezburger
Possums may just be the official spirit animal of 2020. Get ready to face yourself in these relatable possum memes!<|control11|><|separator|>