is it Opposum? or Possum?

Question

here, this video will show you what i'm tlaking about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwmL0hcPquA

let me know which one it is, cause i'm really curious.

p.s.- as of right now, it's still sitting there.heh.

Answer 1

Either your opossum is ill, or it is "playing possum," as they say. Sometimes fright causes an opossum to have something like a fainting spell, but they are not completely unconscious. They can go on like this for hours, collapsing when you are looking, moving a little when you are not. They eventually go away if nothing is wrong with them.
When they are in this semi-unconscious condition, you can pick them up and carry them around. Usually they leave pretty soon, but not always. And sometimes they don't play possum at all, but run away, or fight if cornered. They can bite, but the bite is not particularly dangerous. Their germs don't do well in humans.
I have noticed that a fainting opossum looks deader and uglier the closer you get. Touch it, and it may grimace as if it died of strychnine poisoning.
And opossums are not rodents, as you will know if you get a look at their teeth....

Answer 2

It's a Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana.

The North American critter is called the opossum, as are it's South American relatives. The Australian marsupials that are not really all that closely related are usually referred to as possums.

But, being a common name, possum is also used in many areas to refer to an opossum.

The behaviour of the critter, hanging out near people and such, without trying to get away doesn't seem like normal behaviour for one of these normally shy critters. I suspect that the poor little guy might be ill.

Answer 3

both of these terms are perfectly fine for the rodent

Answer 4

it both