American opossum fur is a versatile natural material for fly tying. Its glossy guard hairs make it ideal for blending into dubbing, giving it a buggy look and added sheen. Opossum fur can also be used for creating wings on streamers, salmon, or steelhead flies, and for forming bodies on streamers and shrimp patterns. Zonker strips made from opossum fur are preferable to rabbit strips as they do not absorb water, making them easier to cast. Additionally, hide patches from opossums can be cut into various widths to create different zonker strips. Opossum fur is also suitable for nymphs and small streamers, serving as a good substitute for soft seal. The fur is typically 1.5 to 2 inches long, and the hide is thin and manageable, with variable colors.
The Virginia opossum, also known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial native to North America, extending its range south into Central America. It is the northernmost marsupial in the world. Commonly referred to as “possum” in the U.S. and Canada, this nocturnal animal is about the size of a domestic cat and is known for its adaptability.
Opossums often live in areas near human settlements, such as near trash cans or compost piles, and are known for their slow, nocturnal habits. Their attraction to roadside carrion makes them susceptible to roadkill. Virginia opossums can vary in size; those in the northern parts of their range tend to be larger. They measure between 33 to 55 centimeters in body length, with their tails adding an additional 25 to 54 centimeters. Males typically measure around 40.8 centimeters in body length and 29.4 centimeters in tail length, while females are slightly smaller. Males weigh between 2.1 to 2.8 kilograms, and females between 1.9 to 2.1 kilograms.
Their fur is a dull grayish-brown, with white faces. They possess long, hairless, prehensile tails useful for grasping branches and carrying small objects. Additionally, they have hairless ears, a long, flat nose, and 50 teeth—more than any other North American land mammal. Opossums also feature opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs and 13 nipples arranged in a circle. The dental formula of the Virginia opossum is 5.1.3.4/4.1.3.4. Notably, this marsupial has 10 upper incisors, which is more than any other mammal in North America. Despite its widespread success, the Virginia opossum has one of the lowest encephalization quotients among marsupials, with a brain significantly smaller than that of a raccoon.
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