Playing Possum Is a Real Involuntary Response
A possum is an American marsupial. Its famous death-feigning is not a decision but an involuntary reaction.
A possum is an American marsupial, properly the opossum, and in Australia a different animal entirely. Playing possum is not a strategy consciously adopted: the Virginia opossum enters an involuntary catatonic state under extreme stress, complete with a foul-smelling secretion. It cannot choose when to stop, and may stay that way for hours.
- An American marsupial. *A Virginia opossum.*
- An Australian marsupial. *A brushtail possum.*
- Play possum — feign death or ignorance. *He is playing possum.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | possum | A young possum. |
| Plural | possums | Several possums. |
| Full form | opossum | The Virginia opossum. |
| Related | marsupial | A pouched marsupial. |
| Australian | brushtail | A brushtail possum. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Playing possum is involuntary.A stress response, not a choice.
- American and Australian possums are unrelated.Different families.
- Opossum comes from an Algonquian language.Meaning white dog or white animal.
Opossum facts
- Marsupial — the only one native to North America
- Prehensile tail — used for grip, though not for hanging as often shown
- Fifty teeth — more than any other North American land mammal
- Resistant to venom — including that of pit vipers
- Involuntary catatonia — the state behind playing possum
From Virginia Algonquian *opassum*, meaning white dog or white animal. The Australian possum was named by Joseph Banks for the resemblance.
Are American and Australian possums related?
Only distantly, as marsupials. They belong to different families, and the Australian animal was named for a superficial resemblance.
Do opossums choose to play dead?
No. It is an involuntary catatonic response to extreme threat, and the animal cannot end it at will.