The possums in my area are all ringtails, however one of my friends is looking after an orphaned brushtail. They're very cute when young, but like most Australian wildlife will make good use of their claws when older. He also has a juvenile wombat, and the family resemblance between possums, wombats and kangaroos is quite noticeable when they are young. As they mature the head changes shape, but when young they are quite similar.
Paul Ewins Melbourne, Australia -----Original Message----- From: Christian Skofteland [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, 23 June 2003 11:58 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, species. For Virginia opossum: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, (sub-phylum: Vertebrata), Class: Mamalia, Order: Marsupalia, Family: Didelphidae, Genus: Didelphis, species: virginiana. For Brushtail possum: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, (sub-phylum: Vertebrata), Class: Mamalia, Order: Marsupalia, Family: Phalangeridae, Genus: Trichosurus, species: vulpecula. The opossums in your yard in California are Virginia opossums that were "introduced" there. They are not native, but quite happy to terrorize the countryside. Christian Skofteland [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keith Whaley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 3:36 PM Subject: Re: (o)possums (was: Agfa Competition) > 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 > --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.488 / Virus Database: 287 - Release Date: 5/06/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.488 / Virus Database: 287 - Release Date: 5/06/2003
