Category: Mammals
Like all lemurs, this easily recognized primate is native to the island of Madagascar. They are omnivorous, diurnal, and the most terrestrial of the lemur species. They are highly social and may live in female dominated groups of up to 30 individuals. Their species name, catta, makes reference to their feline form and purring vocalizations reminiscent of domestic cats.
The Opossum Ain’t Playing
Many people associate playing dead with the opossum - that’s where the term “playing opossum” comes from, after all. But something you might not know is that when an opossum feigns death, it really goes all out! Not content with merely closing its eyes and laying down, the opossum begins drooling profusely as if ill or even rabid, releases a putrid, greenish fluid from its anal glands that makes it smell like a decaying corpse, and after losing consciousness may even mimic rigor mortis! This is quite the elaborate routine, but it isn’t conscious: when an opossum plays dead, it has actually gone into shock due to stress.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
