Possum

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The possums (sometimes opossums) are two groups of marsupials, which outside of the Virginia (o)possum display a characteristically Gondwanan distribution:

American possums

• Didelphimorphia, or (o)possums, an order of marsupials native to the Americas
  • Didelphis, a genus of marsupials within Didelphimorphia
    • Common opossum, native to Central and South America
    • Virginia opossum, native to North America
    • White-eared opossum, native to South America

Australasian possums

• Phalangeriformes, also called (o)possums, any of a number of arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi
  • Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), a common possum in Australian urban areas, invasive in New Zealand
  • Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), also common in Australian urban areas, absent from New Zealand
  • Phalangeridae (possums and cuscuses), a family of marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea containing most of the species referred to as "possums" in Australia

Possum may also refer to:

People

• Possum Bourne (1956–2003), New Zealand rally car driver
• George Jones (1931–2013), known as "The Possum", American country music singer
• Possum Jones (1934–1997), American NASCAR driver
• Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri (1932–2002), Indigenous Australian painter
• Possum Whitted (1890–1962), American baseball player

Arts and entertainment

Other uses

• POSSUM, or Patient Operated Selector Mechanism, communications device for people with disabilities

See also

• Opossum (disambiguation)