All I know about opossums is that they're ugly son of a bitches and they're good to eat. Paul
Keith Whaley wrote: > > Are the 'possums I see in my backyard, here in So. Calif., also Virginia 'possums? > > No, seriously! > > Christian wrote: > > > [. . .] > > > To be clear: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana - N. America) is a > > different species from Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula - Australia). > > They are in the same order of mammals: marsupalia, but different families. > > Incidentally, there are several species of possums in Australia, and at > > least three species of opossum in North and South America (only one in North > > America). > > How's it parse out? > My book says Mammalia are "classes" of Vertebrates, which is one of the > "sub-phyla" of Chordata, which in turn belongs to the "sub-kingdom" of > Metazoa, kingdom of animals. > Where does "species" fit? > > That's what I was trying to say before, but didn't know how to split up > the classification. > Interesting to know opposums are not just one species. Never knew that. > > keith > > > It's true that in North America, i.e.: the United States, some people, in a > > regional dialect, call it a 'possum, but they are refering to the Virginia > > opossum which is its correct common name. Just like some people call > > raccoons, 'coons, etc, etc. > > > > Christian
