In the mid-17th century , a creature of rum proportionswas caughtin Virginia and brought to the Royal Society in London for observance . The furry animate being had a pointed schnoz , tart tooth , and , most remarkably , a pouch in its abdomen . Unsure how else to describe it , those who see it described it a cross between a Charles James Fox and an ape .

This flakey animal turned out to be the only pouched mammal aboriginal to the United States and Canada . Now , we experience them asopossums — derived from theAlgonquianwordaposoum , meaning “ white frump ” or “ white beast . " ( Despite the vicious - sounding nomenclature , opossums are rarely serious . They ’re really a boon to gardeners because theyeat pestslike beetles , punch , and tick . )

Opossum or Possum?

So where dopossumsfit into this tale ? You may occasionally refer to the pink - nosed animal trotting along the road as apossum , which is an satisfactory truncated variant ofopossum . However , the Word of God without theorefers to something very unlike outside of North America .

Whilepossumis sometimes a synonym ofopossum , it can also refer to a whole unlike species that lives in New Guinea , Australia , Indonesia , and elsewhere in the Pacific . Though possums and opossums have a lot in common — including the fact that they ’re nocturnal , omnivorous , tree - dwelling pouched mammal that are do it to play dead , or “ play possum , ” when jeopardise — they look quite dissimilar . ( The figure above show what a plebeian brushtail phalanger take care like . )

As for the orthoepy , it ’s a common misconception that the firstoinopossumis silent . Merriam - Webster , Grammarly , andDictionary.comall note that the word is pronounceduh - possum , with the first vowel voiced . However , if you ’re opting for the shortened version , opossum , then it ’s fine to omit theosound . Unless you ’re speaking with an Australian , it ’s probable you ’ll be empathize either way .

A possum (left) and an opossum (right).

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A common brushtail possum.