The opossum is the only marsupial native to the United States. More precisely, the species found there is the Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana.
The Virginia opossum ranges from parts of southern Canada through the United States and into Central America. It is a nocturnal, generally solitary animal that often lives successfully near people, where it searches for insects, fruit, carrion, pet food, and discarded food. Its flexible diet helps it occupy forests, suburbs, farmland, and other habitats.
As a marsupial, the opossum gives birth to very underdeveloped young. Newborns crawl into the mother’s pouch, where they attach to teats and continue developing. This is the same broad reproductive group that includes kangaroos and koalas, although those animals belong to different marsupial lineages.
A common mix-up involves Australian possums. They are also marsupials, but they are not the same animals as American opossums. In the United States, “possum” is often used informally for the Virginia opossum, while “opossum” is the more precise name.