The opossum is a small marsupial from the family Opossumus maximus arborealis that is known for its ability to hang from trees by its tail. It is native to the deciduous forests of North America, where it feeds on slugs, red berries, thistle seed, and sticks. It ranges in length from 13-18 centimeters, has gray fur, large front teeth, and beady little eyes. It also has large ears, which help it hear better than other animal in the world. A common misconception about the opossum is that it is the same animal as the possum, which is actually a completely different animal from the family Possumus grandus ignoramus and is not at all able to hang from its tail.
The opossum has appeared in various venues of popular culture including: