Image # 1340
Opossums - "Living Fossils" immatures perching in tree Estimated to have survived for 50 million years in their present form, Virginia Opossums are the only marsupial native to North America. The female opossum develops a pouch or marsupium on her abdomen for the purpose of carrying and protecting her young. Born blind and the approximate size of a honey bee, baby opossums remain in their mother's pouch until they are able to ambulate independently at the age of seven weeks. Young opossums like these two siblings face high mortality rates during their first year of life. As adults, they will lead largely solitary lifes.
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