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Opossum Opus Part 3

If you were with us on Part 1, you know that off the highway, opossums are sorta indestructible. If you made it through Part 2, you know their penises are hellish, their wombs magical, and their babies cute as the dickens.

Now it’s time to learn why I’ve used the word “opossum” throughout these posts, despite having heard them called “possums” all my life. As you’ll see, that little “o” means something. 

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Opossums & the Founding of the Americas

Back in the heady days of European colonialism, there was a Spanish sailor by the name of Vicente Yáñez Pinzón. You’ve probably never heard of him, but Pinzón was captain of Columbus’ Niña on that fateful voyage across the ocean blue in 1492.

After the whole “Discovery of America” thing, Pinzón went on to “discover” the Brazil and the Amazon. While there, he stumbled upon a strange, rat-like creature with a pouch full of babies. And, like your cat does with chipmunk heads, Pinzón brought the animal back to Spain and displayed it proudly before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Nothing is written on whether or not they fed it grapes.

Over a century later, the Brits se tup a little franchise in Jamestown, Virginia. You may have heard of it. And in that colony was a lovable brogue who went by the name of John Smith. (At least he was quite charming in the Mel Gibson cartoon. I can never remember, are Disney movies primary sources?)

Turns out, old Smitty was a bit of a namer and it’s him we can thank for the word “opossum.” More accurately, it’s the Native Americans, for opossum is derived from the Algonquin “apasum,” which means “white animal.” (Skip to :40, if you’re worthy.)

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More Old White Guys

Then, in 1768, Captain James Cook became the first European to encounter Australia and with it a whole bunch of crazy marsupials. Thanks to Pinzón and Smitty, everyone knew about those pouchy critters that come back from the dead. Indeed, as Krause puts it,

“The opossum rapidly became the symbol of the natural wonders held by the American colonies and was dissected and discussed at length by Europes leading scientists. At that time the opossum played an important role during the period of transition from medieval to enlightenment in science.”

See that? Opossums are more or less entirely responsible for modern science.

Anyway, upon seeing all kinds of marsupials, old Captain Cook and his naturalist, Sir Joseph Banks, generalized and applied the word “opossum” to all of them, but the “o” was later dropped on Aussie possums to make things a little less confusing.

Long story short: 

“Opossum” refers to the American opossums (like Didelphis virginiana)

“Possum” refers to numerous marsupials throughout Australia and the surrounding islands. 

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Bittel Me Leftovers

1. Opossums have prehensile tails. Though the tail helps them balance on tree limbs, it’s not strong enough to support an adult – which is why you’ll only see pictures of young possums hanging from their tails, like in Part 2.

2. Opossums have opposable thumbs on their hind feet, also for improved climbing abilities.

3. Opossums do not hibernate. This means they must forage in nearly all conditions. Further proof of their devil-may-care attitude? Grizzled elder opossums are frequently seen missing chunks of their ears and tails as a result of frostbite.

4. Those donuts go straight to the tail – in captivity, overfed opossums have been noticed to grow tails of “considerable girth.”

5. All this and more await you over at William J. and Winifred A. Krause’s e-book, “The Opossum: Its Amazing Story” – published by the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Missouri. 

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Image credits: Possum Tail, Santa Mario, Sugar Glider