When people picture a “possum,” most are actually thinking of an “opossum.” Possums are native to Australia. More commonly found opossums are native to North and South America. The Virginia opossum is the most commonly known opossum.

Most opossums are around the size of a housecat. These marsupials have an elongated snout, and a large sagittal crest – a bone making their forehead look taller. They have scaly feet, and a scaly prehensile tail. A prehensile tail can be wrapped around branches to stabilize the animal while climbing.