Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana

The Virginia Opossum (also called Possum) is the only marsupial native to the USA (and the southeast corner of Canada). It is also native to Mexico and Central America. It is a cat-sized marsupial (carrying its developing young it the mother's pouch), mainly solitary and nocturnal.

It is an omnivore and climbs well, with a prehensile tail to assist in climbing. It has a short life span for its size: only some 1-2 years in the wild and 3-4 in captivity. It is also well-known for "playing possum", ie pretending to be dead to deter predators which eat live, fresh prey.