We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Behavior

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Does the United States Have Any Native Marsupials?

By Kevin Hellyer
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 1,564
References
Share

Marsupials are animals that raise and nourish their young in an abdominal pouch before they get big enough to face life on their own. In contrast, other mammals have placentas that nourish the young while still in the womb.

The term "marsupial" typically conjures up images of the land down under, and for good reason – more than 200 marsupial species, such as wombats, wallabies, kangaroos, and koalas, are prevalent on the Australian continent and on nearby islands. It's less commonly known that South America is home to 90 marsupial species.

Only one native marsupial, however, can be found in the United States. The Virginia opossum (or just "possum") has adapted especially well to urban areas, where it can frequently be found chowing down on discarded food from overturned trash cans, or pet kibble left out for dogs. Although this scavenging behavior can annoy people, we have reason to be grateful to opossums – they also voraciously gobble up ticks, which slows the spread of Lyme disease.

More about opossums:

  • The Virginia opossum is one of the oldest surviving mammals on the planet, having existed for about 65 million years.

  • Opossums are one of the few mammals in the U.S. with prehensile tails, which means they can grasp objects with their tails, a skill that helps them during nest building or when they’re climbing trees.

  • These nocturnal animals play dead when faced with danger. A threatened opossum goes into a catatonic-like state, drooling and emitting a foul substance from its anal glands – a behavior that helps keep predators at bay.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/does-the-united-states-have-any-native-marsupials.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.