People often call opossums rodents because, honestly, they do look a bit like oversized rats. But are opossums actually rodents? Nope, not even close. Opossums are marsupials, which means they carry their babies in pouches—think kangaroos, not mice.
Rodents have a certain kind of teeth, but opossums? They don’t. Opossums have a different jaw setup with about 50 teeth, which is way more than most rodents. Their family tree, eating habits, and behavior all set them apart from rats and mice.
If you’re curious about what really makes opossums unique, you’re in good company. Learning a bit more might just change how you see them hanging around your neighborhood. Want to dig deeper? Here’s a detailed look at opossums.
Are Opossums Classified As Rodents Or Marsupials?
You might wonder if opossums are rodents since they resemble rats. But they actually belong to a very different animal group with some pretty unique features. These differences show why opossums are marsupials, not rodents.
Rodent Versus Marsupial: Key Differences
Rats and other rodents have a specific set of teeth for gnawing. They’ve got just one pair of sharp incisors on the top and bottom, and those teeth never stop growing.
Marsupials like opossums don’t have that kind of dental setup. Opossums have up to 50 teeth, including small incisors, big canines, and three-cusped molars. That’s a far cry from the simple rodent chompers.
Reproduction is another big difference. Female marsupials have a pouch where their babies finish developing after birth. Rodents don’t—they give birth to more developed young, and there’s no pouch involved. You can check out more on this at the Terminix site.
Opossums’ Unique Biological Traits
Opossums have a bunch of traits you won’t see in rodents or most other mammals. Female opossums have a pouch to carry and nurse their babies, which are called joeys. Their reproductive organs are unusual too—females have a split (bifurcated) vagina, and males have a forked penis.
They’ve got long snouts and prehensile tails that help them grip branches. Opossums also have opposable toes on their back feet, so they’re pretty good climbers.
Their bodies are covered in rough fur, usually gray or brown. The Virginia opossum—the only one in the U.S. and Canada—shows off all these marsupial traits. These features actually make them closer to kangaroos and koalas than to any rodent. Want more details? Here’s the Virginia opossum’s Wikipedia page.
Common Confusion With Rats And Possums
A lot of people mix up opossums and rats because they look somewhat alike. Both have similar body shapes and sizes, and you’ll spot them in cities and suburbs.
It’s also easy to confuse opossums with possums, which are mostly found in Australia. Despite the similar names, Australian possums belong to a different marsupial group and live pretty different lives.
Just remember, opossums don’t have those ever-growing incisors that rodents do. Plus, they carry their babies in a pouch. Calling an opossum a rat or a rodent just isn’t right, even if their names sound similar. For more on this, visit the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Opossum Behavior, Diet, And Interactions With Humans
Opossums mostly come out at night and eat just about anything. They’ve got some clever ways to stay safe and sometimes carry diseases that can affect people and pets. There are easy ways to keep them away from your house if you need to.
Diet: Insects, Carrion, And Fallen Fruit
Opossums aren’t picky eaters. Bugs like beetles and grasshoppers are a big part of what they eat.
They’ll also eat carrion—dead animals they find on roads or in the woods. Honestly, that helps keep the environment a bit cleaner.
Opossums like fallen fruit too—think berries, apples, and persimmons. Sometimes they’ll eat worms, eggs, or even small birds and rodents if they find them. Since they eat lots of pests, opossums can actually help keep insect and rodent numbers down near your home.
Nocturnal Habits And Playing Dead
Opossums are night owls. You probably won’t see them during the day unless something’s wrong or they get disturbed.
When threatened, opossums sometimes “play possum”—they flop over, stick out their tongue, and just look dead. This trick fools predators that want live prey. It might last for a few minutes or even hours, but once the coast is clear, they snap out of it.
Health And Safety: Rabies And Leptospirosis
People sometimes worry about catching diseases from opossums, but these animals rarely carry rabies. Their body temperature is too low for the virus to survive.
They can, however, spread leptospirosis—a bacterial disease that passes through their urine and can be risky for both people and pets.
It’s best not to touch or feed wild opossums. Keep your pets vaccinated, and if you spot a sick or injured opossum, call local wildlife experts for help.
Discouraging Opossums Around Your Home
If you want to keep opossums away, you’ve got a few options. Start by removing food sources like pet food, fallen fruit, or open garbage cans.
Make sure you secure your compost pile. Pick up any fruit that drops from your trees, even if it feels like a hassle.
Block off spots where opossums might want to hide, like woodpiles, brush piles, or crawl spaces under your deck. Some folks set up motion-activated lights or sprinklers—honestly, those can work pretty well to startle them.
Opossums usually just do their own thing and don’t go looking for trouble. If you keep your property tidy, you’ll probably see fewer of them hanging around.
Curious about how opossums live or what they eat? You might want to check out this page on opossums and their unique way of life.
