ORDER OF POUCHED ANIMALS 



(Marsupialia) 



OUCHED Mammals, also known as Marsupials, are one of the most remark- 

 able and distinctive of all the orders. Most of its members are confined 

 to the Australian region, the Kangaroo being the most familiar type. Only 

 one member, the Opossum, is found in North America. 



The order takes its name from the external abdominal pouch of the 

 female, in which the very small young are carried. A number of points in 

 the embryology of the Marsupials, such as the extremely early birth and 

 undeveloped condition of the young, show a wide separation from other 

 orders. The one American family belongs to the Polyprotodont section of the 

 Order, so called because of the character of the teeth, which are differentiated 

 into incisors, canines, and molars. 

 The Opossums are a group that reach their greatest abundance in tropical and South 

 America. The United States is in only the extreme northern portion of their range and 

 thus we have only three sub-species found north of the Rio Grande. There is little liability 

 of confusing this animal with any other North American type. The long prehensile tail, 

 the grasping hind foot, the marsupial pouch, and the number of teeth are sufficiently 

 characteristic to identify the Opossum, being found in no other mammal of the United 

 States. 



VIRGINIA OPOSSUM 

 Didelphis virginiana Kerr 



General Description. — A good-sized mammal with 

 long gray hair, about the size of a house cat, but 

 with a long, naked tail. Head long and slender ; muzzle 

 bare ; eyes small ; ears large, naked ; body rather thick- 

 set ; tail prehensile; marsupial pouch present; limbs 

 short ; feet with five distinct toes, each provided with 

 nails; first toe of hind foot which is nailless, large and 

 opposed to the others for grasping; soles of feet naked; 

 pelage externally composed of long coarse hairs in 

 color grizzly gray ; teeth sharp. An arboreal animal, 

 and the only marsupial found in the United States. 



Der.tal Formula.- 



- Incisors, ; Canines, : Pre- 



4-4 I— I 



molars, ^- ; Molars, --^=50. 



Pelage. — Adults : Sexes identical ; seasonal varia- 

 tion slight. Pelage of two coats ; underfur short and 

 soft, whitish ; upper parts covered with black and white 

 hairs, the latter longer, giving a grayish appearance ; 

 head yellowish-white; cheeks pure white; top of head 

 and around eyes blackish ; under parts dusky, inter- 

 mixed with white hairs ; legs and feet black ; tail black 



at base, remainder yellowish-white ; ears black with 

 yellow spot on upper edge. Young : Quite similar to 

 adults. 



Measurements. — Total length, 30 inches ; tail ver- 

 tebrae, 12 inches; hind foot. 3 inches. 



Range. — Atlantic Coast from New York to Florida 

 and west to Mississippi and Te.xas. 



Food. — Omnivorous; birds and eggs, mice, frogs, 

 fish, insects and fruit. 



Rel.\ted Subspecies 



Virginia Opossum. — Didelphis virginiana riri/iniana 

 Kerr. Typical animal of the above description. 

 Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, and east to Hudson 

 Valley and Florida. 



Southern Opossum. — Didel/'liis virginiana pigra 

 Ban,gs. Smaller and darker ; tail longer. Florida, 

 Georgia and Gulf Coast region to western Louisiana. 



Texas Opossum. — Didelphis niarsupialis te.rensis 

 Allen. Size large ; two color phrases, one black, the 

 other gray. Coast region of Texas southward. 



[^93] 



