opossum
Feigning death expert
An opossum is a marsupial native to the Americas, most commonly the Virginia opossum found throughout North America.
Opossums are nocturnal, omnivorous, and famous for "playing possum"—feigning death when threatened.
The shortened form *possum* is standard in casual speech: There's a possum in the garbage again.
Faking death as defense
- feigningPretending to feel something
- hissingSharp sss sound
- droolingSaliva spilling from mouth
- stiffNot easily bent
catatonic · predator · foul odor · involuntary · survival · deterrent
Rear animal appendage
- prehensileAdapted for grasping
- pouchSmall flexible bag
- snoutBeast's protruding face
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
fur · claws · whiskers · ears · opposable thumb · scent glands · mammary · marsupium
Small flexible bag
- joeyYoung marsupial offspring
- kangarooPouched Australian leaper
- wallabySmall Australian marsupial
- koalaTree-dwelling Australian marsupial
wombat · bandicoot · bilby · numbat · quokka · Tasmanian devil · glider · macropod
Eats plants and animals
playing dead
Faking death as defense
stiff · catatonic · predator · foul odor · involuntary · survival · deterrent
tail
Rear animal appendage
- prehensileAdapted for grasping
- pouchSmall flexible bag
- snoutBeast's protruding face
teeth · fur · claws · whiskers · ears · opposable thumb · scent glands · mammary · marsupium
pouch
Small flexible bag
koala · wombat · bandicoot · bilby · numbat · quokka · Tasmanian devil · glider · macropod
omnivore
Eats plants and animals
climbing · burrowing · solitary · grooming · hissing · drooling
nighttime
Dark hours between dusk and dawn
twilight · crepuscular · den · burrow · moonlight · nightfall · prowling · scavenging
North America
Western Hemisphere's northern continent
suburban · backyard · roadside · nest · hollow · brush · urban · adaptation · ecosystem
opossumapex predator
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
obligate carnivore · koala · panda · anteater · lion