Friday, February 5, 2010

What is the difference between a Possum and an Opossum? Or are they the same thing?

Opossum refers to the New World didelphid marsupials - the most common of which is the Virginia opossum, found throughout much of North America, but there are also opossums in South America.





Possum usually refers to a group of marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand, such as the brushtail possum.





Although both groups of critters are marsupials, they are not very closely related.





The Virginia opossum, however, is often called a possum as a sort of local nickname, which tends to confuse matters a bit - similar to the way the name panther can refer to a cougar, leopard or jaguar, depending on where you are.What is the difference between a Possum and an Opossum? Or are they the same thing?
they are the same thing but the real name is an opossumWhat is the difference between a Possum and an Opossum? Or are they the same thing?
The same ol thing


I have no chance for the best answer AM Capo is here
The same.
In the USA they are the same the O is usually silent. However there are also possums in Australia that are unrelated also called phalangers. They were named by Captain Cook after the North American Opossum which he did not spell correctly.





BTW Two explorers from england discovered Australia at about the same time. And are both credited with its discovery. Captain cook was one of them. (I hope I have the right name).

No comments:

Post a Comment