While there may be many examples of wild animals creating bonds with human beings, the circumstances where this happens are unique. This is something important when considering opossums as pets. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School, Anderson's Mouse Opossum - Marmosa andersoni The other mouse opossums are found only in South America, where several species are known from only one or a few localities and individuals. The same goes for keeping possums as pets. Mouse opossums have large naked ears, nearly naked tails, and a dark ring around each eye. Marmosa mexicana is a small to moderate-sized reddish-brown marsupial, varying from bright to dull coloration. 1970 Southwestern Association of Naturalists When threatened it can become aggressive, opening its mouth and hissing or making a clicking noise. Didelphimorphia includes 127 species in 18 genera, Paucituberculata includes 7 species in 3 genera, and Microbiotheria includes 3 species within a single genus. The dorsal fur is usually some shade of reddish brown and the ventral fur is yellowish to orangish. All species have abdominal mammary glands, and a few also have pectoral mammary glands. The possum is a beautiful animal, but there are many specific concerns regarding keeping them as a pet. Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced Possums were held in individual cages under conditions of natural light and temperature for an observation period of 26 months, and skin and fibre samples taken from the mid dorso-lateral position at three week intervals. Females lack a pouch. Marsupials are found in Australia and North and South America. We had a cage for it in the yard. Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes). In this article we are talking about the North American possum, but it would be just as accurate to ask can you keep an opossum as a pet? US Status Key [8], The species is primarily arboreal; it is found from ground level to heights of 30 m in the canopy. [7] They are considered pests due to their somewhat raccoon-like behavior. Opossum - New World Encyclopedia Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School (2011). Just different pronunciations. Disclaimer: The species in Tate's 'mexicana' and 'mitis' sections and other closely related forms.

Cancer Alan Jackson Wife, Emory Nursing Dress Code, Articles M