Image 6Opossum tracks (photo center) in mud: Left-fore print appears on left center of photo, right-hind print appears right center. The small, circular tracks at bottom center of photo were made by a meadow vole. The yellow ruler (top) is in inches.
Image 7Virginia opossum cornered in a piano in Houston, Texas, shortly before its release (from Virginia opossum)
Image 8Pacing diagram for Virginia opossum - key: rectangles represent hind tracks, ellipses are fore tracks, left tracks are red, right are green. (a) the position of the four feet frozen in mid-pace. (b) the opossum brings right fore and hind feet forward. (c) the opossum brings left fore and hind feet forward. One grid square represents one square inch. (from Virginia opossum)
The back foot has an opposable "thumb". (from Virginia opossum)
Virginia opossum in northeastern Ohio (from Virginia opossum)
When injured or threatened (e.g., by a dog), the Virginia opossum is known to feign death or "play possum".
Skull of a Virginia opossum
Carrying its young (from Virginia opossum)
Opossum tracks (photo center) in mud: Left-fore print appears on left center of photo, right-hind print appears right center. The small, circular tracks at bottom center of photo were made by a meadow vole. The yellow ruler (top) is in inches.
Virginia opossum cornered in a piano in Houston, Texas, shortly before its release (from Virginia opossum)
Pacing diagram for Virginia opossum - key: rectangles represent hind tracks, ellipses are fore tracks, left tracks are red, right are green. (a) the position of the four feet frozen in mid-pace. (b) the opossum brings right fore and hind feet forward. (c) the opossum brings left fore and hind feet forward. One grid square represents one square inch. (from Virginia opossum)
