The pouchless young must firmly attach to the teats with their mouths and front paws. The reproductive system of the opossum has fascinated many and has led to interesting folklore. She then sneezed the young through her nose and into the pouch. Of course, this is not true. There are several reasons why this belief was held. One reason is that opossums are so small at birth it is difficult to witness the event.
Observers had seen the female with an empty pouch one day. The next day she was seen with her nose in the pouch making sneezing sounds. Later, upon examination of the pouch, tiny embryos were found.
Actually, the female opossum was either cleaning the pouch prior to the birth or licking the area to soothe her swollen teats. It is bifurcated, like a 2 pronged fork. The female has an internal, bifurcated reproductive tract as well. Opossum sperm are interesting? The male opossum does have a forked reproductive organ, but reproduction does not take place as outlined above. However, what actually happens afterward is almost as amazing as the story just related.
After they are conceived the developing young ones remain within the body of the female for about 12 days and are born in a very immature stage of development. Each of the young from eight to as many as twenty-one is actually smaller than a honey bee, and so unlike the adults in appearance, that no one unfamiliar with this type of reproduction could possibly recognize them as opossums.
You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Opossum in tree click to enlarge. Opossums mating click to enlarge.
The right side roll click to enlarge. Virginia Opossum click to enlarge. Typically, most of the joeys don't survive. Joeys become sexually mature at six to eight months and live for one to two years. Here is the taxonomy of the common opossum, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System :.
While some opossums are endangered or extinct, the common opossum is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. Its population is listed as stable. Opossums really do play dead. They will flop down and be very still with their tongue hanging out to trick predators. Sometimes this trick will allow opossums to escape. Playing dead can last up to six hours, according to ADW. Like other marsupials, opossums have thumbs, called an opposable hallux, on their paws.
These thumbs are on the back feet as well as on the front feet. Their tails are prehensile and can be used to help them climb and hold onto tree branches.
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