What animals are possums related to?
Despite its appearance, the opossum is not related to the rat. In fact, the opossum is a marsupial, or “pouched” mammal, and is therefore related to other marsupials such as the kangaroo and the koala. Like kangaroos and koalas, infant opossums stay inside the mother’s pouch to nurse and develop.
What family does a possum come from?
Opossum
Virginia opossum/Family
Is there a difference between an opossum and a possum?
Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent.
What is the difference between an opossum and a possum?
While both possums and opossums are marsupials, they are, technically and scientifically, two very different animals. The opossum is a mammal belonging to the family of marsupials located in North America. Possums, on the other hand, are marsupials of Australian origin. The possums were given that name because…
Are there any animals that look like sloths?
Sloths are very unique-looking animals. In fact, scientists have found that they are not as easy to classify as many other animals are. For example, while we can see that dogs and coyotes have many shared characteristics, we cannot easily find animals that share similarities with sloths.
Where do possums come from in the world?
Although they inhabit North America, opossums originated from South America then moved north. Opossums are also located in parts of Southern Canada, Chile, and Argentina. On the other hand, possums are native to Australia, Sulawesi (Indonesia), and New Guinea.
How are sloths and marsupials different from each other?
The skulls of marsupials are typically lighter and more proportionately elongated than those of sloths. Additionally, marsupials have pouches where they carry their young, which can feed on teats found inside the pouch. Sloths do not have pouches. Their young are carried by clinging to their mother’s fur with those long claws.