Image 1Virginia opossum cornered in a piano in Houston, Texas, shortly before its release (from Virginia opossum)
Image 2Opossum tracks (photo center) in mud: Left-fore print appears on left center of photo, right-hind print appears right center. The small, circular tracks at bottom center of photo were made by a meadow vole. The yellow ruler (top) is in inches.
Image 3When injured or threatened (e.g., by a dog), the Virginia opossum is known to feign death or "play possum".
Image 4Virginia opossum in northeastern Ohio (from Virginia opossum)
Image 5Skull of a Virginia opossum
Image 6Pacing diagram for Virginia opossum - key: rectangles represent hind tracks, ellipses are fore tracks, left tracks are red, right are green. (a) the position of the four feet frozen in mid-pace. (b) the opossum brings right fore and hind feet forward. (c) the opossum brings left fore and hind feet forward. One grid square represents one square inch. (from Virginia opossum)