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They measure 9 to 12 centimetres (3.5 to 4.7 in) from their nose to the base of the tail. The tail measures 4 to 6 centimetres (1.6 to 2.4 in). They weigh around 17 to 30 grams (0.60 to 1.06 oz). They have a conspicuous reddish head and brown rump and back. The chin, throat, groin and flanks are grayish-brown.
The bushy-tailed opossum is a medium-sized opossum characterized by a large, oval, dark ears, fawn to cinnamon coat with a buff to gray underside, grayish limbs, and, as its name suggests, a furry tail. The face is marked by two bold, dark stripes extending from either side of the nose through the eyes to the back of the ears.
Some species of opossums have prehensile tails, although dangling by the tail is more common among juveniles. An opossum may also use its tail as a brace and a fifth limb when climbing. The tail is occasionally used as a grip to carry bunches of leaves or bedding materials to the nest. [43]
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Didelphimorphia is an order of marsupial mammals.Members of this order are called didelphimorphs, or opossums.They are primarily found in South America, though some are found in Central America and Mexico and one, the Virginia opossum, ranges into the United States and Canada.
Short-tailed opossums have been found to use nuzzling in chemosensory and exploratory behavior for recognizing individuals of the same species. In Monodelphis domestica, nuzzling and snout-rubbing transforms odor from dry components like glandular secretions, feces, and urine, into moist naso-oral secretions that reach the vomeronasal organ to be processed chemically.
Their tails are only semi-prehensile, unlike the fully prehensile tail characteristic of the North American opossum. [3] The fur is greyish brown over almost the entire body, although fading to a paler shade on the underparts, and with near-white fur on the feet. Only the base of the tail has fur, the remainder being almost entirely hairless. [5]
The cheeks, throat, belly and inner surfaces of legs are yellowish with a median white pectoral area. [3] Body hair continues onto the tail for approximately 10 mm. Its nose is pink, ears are grayish brown, and its tail is a dusky brown. It possesses a prehensile tail of equal length to its body.
The ventral side of this pygmy opossum is a lighter color with pale, ivory patches of fur mixed throughout. [4] In addition to fur, vibrissae can be found in three locations on the face, including the nose, above the eyes and near the ears, and under the chin. [4] M. kunsi lacks a mid-sagittal crest; however, it does have a throat gland present ...