Possum

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

Film and television

  • Possum (film), a 2018 British psychological horror film
  • Possums (film), a 1998 sports comedy film
  • "The Possum", an episode of Parks and Recreation

Music

  • "Possum", a 1987 song written by Jeff Holdsworth on Trey Anastasio's 1987 album The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday
  • "Possum", a 1989 song by Australian band feedtime from their fourth album, Suction
  • "Possum", a 1995 song by Juned
  • "The Possum", a 2015 song by Sun Kil Moon from Universal Themes
  • “Possum Kingdom”, a 1994 song by American rock band Toadies

Other uses

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

See also

  • Opossum (disambiguation)