OPOSSUM

opossum. Opossum, n. a quadruped which carries her young in a bag under her belly

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O‐pos″sum (?), n. [] (Zoöl.) Any American marsupial of the genera Didelphys and Chironectes. The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana. ☞ Several related species are found in South America. The water opossum of Brazil (Chironectes variegatus), which has the hind feet, webbed, is provided with a marsupial pouch and with cheek pouches. It is called also yapock. Opossum mouse. (Zoöl.) See Flying mouse, under Flying. — Opossum shrimp (Zoöl.), any schizopod crustacean of the genus Mysis and allied genera. See Schizopoda.