2006-11-28 11:16:22 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
im from Cali by the way..and i think its sounds proper to call them opposum but possum sounds like a shortend (slnag) version. One kool thing is they call it opossum at the official national site...soo
2006-11-28 11:34:51 · update #1
opossum is the proper term
2006-11-28 11:19:00 · answer #1 · answered by kitt_kattkitt 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what you are referring to.
If you mean the members of the order Didelphimorphia (which are found throughout the western hemisphere), then the most correct answer is 'opossum'. Technically, the name derives from the native Alonquian people, who called them 'wapathemwa' (arguably, the absolutely MOST correct term).
On the other hand, members of the suborder Phalangeriformes in Australia are most correctly called 'possums'. They were actually named by explorers for their similarity to American opossums - one of the very few namings in Australia that actually turns out to be proven true by biology.
Link below for verification.
2006-11-28 11:20:32 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The proper term is POSSUM. In the South, you're not playing "Opossum", you're playing "Possum".
:)
2006-11-28 11:29:01 · answer #3 · answered by Ms. C 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Possum.
2006-11-28 11:18:13 · answer #4 · answered by Maus 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Opossum" is the proper spelling, but it's pronounced "possum".
2006-11-28 11:19:19 · answer #5 · answered by swissmiss620 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe that both are correct, but it depends what part of the country you're in.
2006-11-28 11:17:52 · answer #6 · answered by Silly me 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
BOTH
2006-11-28 11:33:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋