Opossum Plush Toys, Facts and Information
Opossum stuffed animals, facts and information can be found at Animals N More.
Our opossums include the sugar glider, which is a type of opossum and is made by Douglas. Its name is Squeek. Oliver the Opossum is also made by Douglas and is at far right. There are two opossums from Wildlife Artists. We have a North American Opossum Cuddlekins from Wild Republic as well as its smaller Pocketkins Opossum, and an Opossum plush toy from the Stuffed Animal House. Harry the Opossum from Bearington is also here. And the Unipak Opossum is shown at far left. Buy Opossum plush toys at Jeannie's Cottage Gift Shop.
The opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) is the only North American marsupial. Pouched mammals, such as the kangaroo and the opossum are called marsupials. The young are born premature and need to finish their development in the mother's pouch.
An opossum is about the size of a Cottage cat. The fur on the body is gray and the face white. It has a pointed snout and a pink nose and a long, naked tail.
Opossums breed about once a year. The female bears up to 20 tiny kits (about the size of a bee) who crawl into her pouch, but when they get there they find only 12 or 13 teats. The first comers clamp onto a teat and won't let go for the two months they remain in the pouch. This means
that only the first 13 kits are fed. All the others die of starvation. (Poor little things.) After emerging from the pouch, the remaining infants ride about on their mother's back for another few weeks. As they develop, the young switch from mother's milk to a diverse diet of roots, fruits, insects, and small mammals. Opossums are active mainly at night.
One of the interesting aspects of this animal is its behavior when confronted with a dangerous situation. They play dead, becoming completely lifeless, mouth open, sometimes drooling. I found an opossum in my yard in this catatonic state after my two huge dogs terrified it. Even I thought the little thing was dead. So I wrapped it up in a blanket and took it to a safe place and left it alone. After about ten minutes the little animal raised its head and looked around, then slowly got to its feet and ambled away.
The opossum has a remarkable tail. The tip is prehensile and it uses it as a fifth hand. Opossum is an American Indian name which means "white animal." The opossums belong in the family Didelphidae (double womb.) They have a life span of about seven years.
