Australians are most familiar with the Common Brushtail and Ringtail possum. [6] X Research source
It’s a myth that adult opossums can hang upside down by their tail! Opossums have prehensile tails (able to easily grip objects) but they cannot support their entire body weight with just their tail. [9] X Research source
Possums have smoother, silkier fur than opossums, making them a target of the fur trade industry in New Zealand. An average of 1. 5 million possums are killed annually. [11] X Research source
Possums are usually shy, but they will exert scent marks from their chest glands to mark territory. [15] X Research source When playing dead, opossums emit a foul scent to mimic death–it’s often described as corpse-like. [16] X Research source
Opossums rarely show aggression or bite humans, but mother opossums will attack to protect their young![18] X Research source
It’s estimated that an opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks per year, protecting humans and wildlife from Lyme disease. [21] X Research source
