Possum

Possums are small to medium-sized arboreal marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia, with some species introduced elsewhere such as New Zealand.

Possums are small to medium-sized arboreal marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia, with some species introduced elsewhere such as New Zealand. The term is sometimes used in North America for the Virginia opossum, but true possums are a different group of marsupials. Possums are not native to Canada, but Canadian readers may encounter the term in North American English, where it is sometimes used informally for the Virginia opossum.

Classification and range

True possums are Australian and Australasian marsupials in the suborder Phalangeriformes. They are distinct from opossums, which belong to a different marsupial order in the Americas.

Appearance and behaviour

Possums are generally small to medium-sized, nocturnal, and adapted to life in trees. They often have long tails, woolly fur, and hind feet adapted for climbing.

Diet and ecology

Possums are omnivores, although many species eat mostly plant matter. Their diet can include leaves, fruit, flowers, insects, and other small food items depending on the species.

Name confusion with opossums

The word "possum" is commonly used in North America for the Virginia opossum, but that animal is technically an opossum. True possums and opossums are separate groups that only resemble each other superficially.