How Long Can A Possum Play Dead

Why Do Opossums Play Expressionless?

Published: September 23, 2021

Take you ever heard the phrase playing possum? This refers to a particular beliefs of an opossum (not a possum). When an opossum feels threatened by an animal or human, it has an unusual reaction. It plays dead. This is much dissimilar from other animals that try to run, freeze in place or even turn aggressive and continue the attack. That'south role of what makes this creature so interesting.

Then, why do opossums play dead? How long do they stay nonetheless on the basis? Is this a successful tactic against a predator'southward attack? Read on to get the answers to these questions and uncover more about this mysterious marsupial.

Why Exercise Opossums Play Dead?

Opossums really don't pose a serious threat to other animals. An developed measures 21 to 36 inches long including its tail and weighs 4 to 15 pounds. In brusque, these are modest mammals. Furthermore, they motility in a slow, bad-mannered way so they aren't probable to outrun a threat. Playing dead is the most constructive way they have to protect themselves against predators. Most predators don't want to swallow an brute that's already dead. Then, they ordinarily motility on if they meet an opossum's lifeless body on the ground.

Opossums Play Dead - opossum in grass — *Playing dead is an involuntary response on the role of the opossum. The stress of the confrontation facing the opossum causes him to go into shock.*
iStock.com/ScrappinStacy

What Does an Opossum Await Like When Information technology Plays Dead?

When an opossum plays dead information technology doesn't simply fall over onto the footing. This mammal really looks like it's dead! Its feet curl up in tiny balls and its body goes rigid. Information technology opens its oral cavity similar information technology has just taken its last breath. This marsupial may even start to drool. Also, its eyes turn burnished like a animal without a sign of life. A predator can sniff at it, flip its body over or push it beyond the basis. An opossum that is playing expressionless volition non movement or get up and try to run.

Forth with looking similar it'due south expressionless, an opossum too smells like it's dead. When they play dead, they release a liquid from glands located nearly their tail. The mucous gives off a rotting odor. This is even more reason for a predator to move along downwardly the trail. The appearance of being dead combined with the awful olfactory property has helped countless opossums escape capture.

Is Playing Expressionless an Opossum's Only Defense?

No. Though its ability to play dead is an effective way to deal with predators, an opossum has a couple of other defenses.

When threatened by a smaller predator an opossum is likely to give a low growl in an effort to frighten it away. This long-tailed fauna may also bare its very sharp teeth at the threat. Whether an opossum growls or plays dead depends on how threatened it feels.

Opossums Play Dead — *A Virginia Opossum on a argue at nighttime. The Virginia (or common) opossum is the simply North American marsupial. A marsupial is a mammal that has a pouch where it carries its young.*
iStock.com/randimal

What Animals Are Predators of the Opossum?

Opossums live in woods and forests. Some of their predators share this habitat including foxes, coyotes, owls, and hawks. They tin exist attacked by domesticated cats and dogs as well.

Humans are a threat to these animals, besides. Opossums wait for food almost anywhere including in streams, fields, wooded areas, garbage cans, and near busy roads. When people throw things out the motorcar window including pieces of fruit or parts of sandwiches they are bonny to opossums. They are active at night and sometimes are not seen past drivers. Information technology's non unusual to run across a squashed opossum that has ventured out into the road at the wrong moment. Opossum babies are particularly vulnerable to being hit by cars on the road.

Are Opossums Able to Control This Playing Dead Behavior?

No, opossums are not able to command whether or not they play dead. Information technology's what's called an involuntary response. This response is triggered when an opossum is cornered or is being stalked by a predator. Some biologists depict this behavior as going into shock or falling into a temporary blackout.

How Long Does an Opossum Play Dead?

Opossums may play dead for a surprisingly long time. Nigh people assume that an opossum jumps upwards and runs downwards the trail the moment a predator or threat is out of sight. On the opposite, a possum can be in the play expressionless position for upwards to iv hours! Retrieve, they are in a state of shock, then their torso must have a chance to recover.

Next Up: Are Elephants Mammals?

About the Writer

AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of class -- pet owners who accept come together to assist yous improve understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Are opossums and possums the same animal?

No, they are non the aforementioned creature. This is one of the most common misconceptions about opossums. Opossums alive in North America specifically in the U.s.a. and the southern part of Canada. Alternatively, possums live in Australia, New Zealand, and China.

In regard to advent, an opossum has grayish-white fur while a possum has golden-brown fur. An opossum's fur is wiry and coarse while a possum's hair is soft. Opossums can be heavier than possums. An adult possum weighs up to 9 pounds whereas an opossum can be fifteen pounds.

One of the most significant things that set these 2 mammals apart is behavior. While an opossum can play dead, a possum doesn't react to stress in that manner.

Do opossums hang upside downwards by their tail while they sleep?

No. This is a misconception well-nigh this animate being that probably came from cartoons depicting these animals hanging upside downwardly. It's true they can use their tail to grasp food and agree onto branches for balance. In fact, their tail can be considered an additional limb. If this small animate being does hang by its tail it'southward just for a moment when climbing from one branch to another.

What is the habitat of an opossum?

They live in woodlands and forests. They make a nest in underground burrows, woodpiles, or in hollow trees. These are shy, nocturnal animals that like to hibernate.

Is an opossum a rodent?

No. Though opossums look similar to rodents they are not rodents.

They are marsupials like koala bears or kangaroos. Opossums deport their young in a pouch until the babies or joeys are around two months old. It is the but marsupial that lives in North America. Other marsupials like koalas, kangaroos, and wombats live in Australia.

What is the lifespan of an opossum?

Y'all may be surprised to learn the average lifespan of an opossum is simply 1 to 2 years. An opossum living in captivity may live up to 4 years because it'southward not under threat from predators.

Are opossums Endangered?

No, they are not Endangered. Despite having such a short lifespan, opossums are listed as Least Business concern with an increasing population. But how can this be when they live such brusk lives? It all has to do with their reproductive habits.

The mating flavour of an opossum goes from Jan to July. The gestation period of a female is only 12 to 13 days! She can requite live birth to a litter of 7 to thirteen babies. Some females accept up to 20 babies, but since a female parent can only provide milk to thirteen babies not all of the babies in a litter volition survive. So, information technology's the number of babies that opossums have that keeps their population growing!

More than from A-Z Animals