OPOSSUM 



Geographical Distribution. — From New York to Florida, 

 and from Atlantic Coast to the Great Lakes and Texas. 



Fig. 2. Feet of Opossum; forefoot above, hind foot below 



Food. — Omnivorous, but feeding largely on animal life such 

 as small birds, mammals, frogs, fish, eggs, and insects, and on 

 fruit. 



Enemies. — Great Horned Owls; Wildcats; Foxes; Coyotes; 

 Wolves; Cougars; and Bears. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Didelphis 



Virginia Opossum. — Didelphis virginiana virginiana Kerr. 

 The animal of the above description, ranging from the 

 Hudson valley to northern Texas and almost to the Gulf 

 Coast, west to the Great Lakes. 



Florida Opossum. — Didelphis virginiana pigra Bangs. _ 



Smaller, darker, and longer tailed. Total length, 31 inches; 

 tail vertebrae, 14 inches; hind foot, 2.7 inches. Known to 

 occur in Florida, the lower coast region of Georgia, and 

 throughout the low Gulf Coast belt to western Louisiana. 



Texas Opossvun. — Didelphis mesamericana texensis (Allen). 

 A large Opossum occurring in two color phases, a gray phase 

 quite similar in appearance to the Virginia Opossum, and a 



