possum

a kind of animal – marsupial (= animal that carries it underdeveloped babies in a bag-like skin fold on the female) – four-legged – omnivorous (= eating plant matter and meat) – nocturnal (= active at night) – cat-like body with brown or grey fur (hair), cone-shaped fox-like head, long snout (= mouth and nose part), large straight ears, round clear eyes, white whiskers (= long stiff hairs round the mouth part), sharp teeth, medium-sized legs with sharp claws on the feet, long bushy tail (in some species the tail is without hair and used as an extra hand); size: the smallest (pygmy possum) 3-5 inches in length and 170 Kg. in weight, the largest (common bushtail possum) 4 feet in length and about15 Kg. in weight; feeds on plant matter – fruit, vegetables, buds, flowers, small shoots, and insects, snails and other small animals; lives for 5-7 years (some species can live up to 11 years); about 64 (?) species, native to Australia and some species introduced to New Zealand

male ~~ jack

female ~~ jill

baby ~~ joey

group ~~ passel

voice (call) ~~  {no particular name} shill cry, grunt

home ~~ nest; den

{Language Usage: “Opossum” is the marsupial in America, and is, in short, called  ’possum, with the letter ‘O’ but with an apostrophe (’) to indicate that the word is the short form of ‘opossum’!  “Possum” is the marsupial, with almost the same characteristics as the ‘opossum’ of America, in Australia and New Zealand!!}

The common possums are: pygmy possums, bushtail possums, ringtail possums

Special Features:

The ‘leadbeater’s possum’ is the province animal of Victoria, Australia.

The Australian aborigines have worn the fur of the possum for hundreds of years. The fur of the possum has also been used in the fur industry in the modern societies since the 18^th century!

Possums give out a kind of foul smell (musk) from the glands behind their ears.

Some species of tree dwelling possums use their hairless tail as an extra hand to hang from the tree branches or to climb the trees! Possums are found mostly in the trees but they are also found on the ground.

When the baby possums grow older, they leave their mother’s pouch and take a ride on their mother’s back – the whole lot of them!!

Possums pretend to be dead by staying still when they are attacked!

Certain species of possums are protected in Australia, but in New Zealand where it is introduced some years ago it is a pest and it is not protected by the government because possums eat away the leaves of some important trees, birds and bird eggs, and also they raid vegetable gardens, and nest in the ceiling spaces and make a lot of noise!

Figures of Speech:

1.

(a)  to possum (verb)

(b)  to play possum

=  to act or pretend to be dead or asleep

2.

possum-belly  =  the extra storage compartment under a transport vehicle, or a table

3.

as grey as a possum

4.

(a)  as happy as a possum up a gum-tree

(b)  like a possum up a gum-tree

=  (of a person) happy with something; self-satisfied

5.

to climb like a possum  =  (climb) very fast

6.

to stir the possum  =

(a)  to raise silly or embarrassing matters at a discussion

(b)  to cause disturbance

(c)  to make things become lively

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