Discover the Unusual World of Opossums: Top 11 Fascinating and Fun Facts You Didn't Know

1. Opossum Oscar-worthy Death Performance

When life gets too hairy, opossums take the phrase "playing dead" to a whole new level, rolling out the red carpet for their greenish Oscar-worthy performance: When threatened, opossums undergo an involuntary, reflexive act of feigning death, which includes going limp, tongue hanging out, slowed heart rate, shallow breathing, and the release of a smelly green substance from their anal gland to make the act more convincing, all in the hopes of deterring predators who'd prefer not to dine on deceased delicacies.
Source => aaanimalcontrol.com

2. Out-grinning the Cheshire Cat

In a tooth-and-nail competition to out-grin the Cheshire Cat: the Virginia opossum brags a staggering 50 teeth, making it the terrestrial North American mammal with the most teeth – a jaw-dropping suite that includes 18 incisors, 4 canines, 12 premolars, and 16 molars.
Source => a-z-animals.com

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=> Fun Facts about Hedgehogs

3. Indiana Jones' Antivenom Sidekick

If Indiana Jones had an opossum sidekick, he wouldn't have shy away from those venomous snakes: Opossums' blood contains a serum protein that neutralizes snake venom, and scientists have created a peptide from it that can protect mice from venomous snake bites. This affordable, bacteria-produced antivenom has the potential to save thousands of lives all over the world without side effects, making it a possible game-changer for snake bite treatment in areas most in need.
Source => acs.org

4. Opossums' Musical Nipple Survival

In the end, it's all a game of 'musical nipples' for opossums: Opossum mothers possess 13 nipples in their pouch, and while they can give birth to up to 20 babies at once, only the first 13 who find a nipple shall live to tell the tail – literally!
Source => discoverwildcare.org

5. Self-care Maestros of the Animal Kingdom

Step aside, beauty gurus and self-care aficionados, opossums have mastered the art of grooming: These marsupial maestros of cleanliness are not only fastidious self-cleansers, but their tongue-and-paw techniques serve to prevent overheating and nip any pesky parasites or dirt in the proverbial bud.
Source => mentalfloss.com

6. The Tree-dwelling Thumb Champions

With a thumb game stronger than your average social media addict, these furry acrobats are literally a step above the rest: opossums possess opposable thumbs on their hind feet, a unique feature among mammals, allowing them to expertly grasp branches and dominate the tree-dwelling scene.
Source => getmypests.com

7. Hangover of Comatose & Triple Vaginas

If you thought your weekend hangover was bad, just wait until you hear about the opossum's involuntary death ruse: When frightened, these marsupials enter a temporary comatose state known as thanatosis, releasing a foul odor, limping, and hanging their tongue out in a bizarre state of unconscious, convincing feigned perishment that could last up to four hours. Oh, and being blessed with three vaginas and chambers for two sperms in their reproductive tract surely makes their sex life something to marvel at.
Source => cid.go.ke

8. Shakespearean Dream Snack Deterrent

When the going gets tough, opossums take a leaf out of Shakespeare’s book and choose to "sleep, perchance to dream" their troubles away: These ingenious critters can feign death and lay motionless for up to six hours when threatened, effectively hoodwinking predators into thinking they're no longer a delectable snack. Behold the mastery of "playing possum"!
Source => citizen-times.com

9. Possum: Protector of the Venomous Forest

Who needs Spider-Man when you've got Possum: Protector of the Venomous Forest? Opossums are nature's own superheroes with a unique superpower to withstand venomous bites from rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other pit vipers: their blood contains a peptide that acts as an amazing anti-venom, and scientists are studying its potential as a low-cost solution for snakebite treatment in humans.
Source => treehugger.com

10. Animal Kingdom's Freeze Tag Experts

In the animal kingdom's version of the classic childhood game "freeze tag," opossums take their role in it quite seriously: When they feel threatened, they "play possum" by falling over and appearing lifeless, all the while releasing a repugnant odor to deter any prying predators.
Source => ipm.ucanr.edu

11. The Great Thumb War Tragedy

In the great thumb wars of the animal kingdom, opossums might as well sue for hand peace: these quirky marsupials don't actually have opposable thumbs. Sporting prehensile tails and peculiar hind foot designs to assist them in their arboreal escapades, they regrettably lack the dexterity to fully touch fingertips and can't quite give you that coveted thumbs-up.
Source => a-z-animals.com