Opossum Facts: Life Cycle and Reproduction
LIFE CYCLE:
- UTERINE GESTATION: 12-14 days
- MARSUPIUM GESTATION: 70-100 days
- EMBRYO SIZE: Smaller than a honey bee; about 1/4 inch in length; weighs slightly more than 1/8 gram
- OTHER EMBRYO FACTS:
- Embryos are undeveloped except for their claws.
- The mother prepares the pouch and path to the pouch by licking the area shortly before the embryos are born and move to the pouch.
- The embryos travel independently to the pouch.
- The embryos move with a swimming action, grabbing with their front claws and kicking with their back paws.
- The mother opossum has 13 nipples
- The embryos attach to a nipple and the mouth seals around the nipple. The nipple then swells and elongates inside the embryo's mouth.
- If the litter is greater than 13, those embryos which do not attach to a nipple will perish.
- JUVENILE SIZE: 6-7 inch body (not including tail)
- OTHER JUVENILE FACTS:
- Juveniles ride on the mother's back instead of in the pouch.
- After they are weaned, they will travel short distances but remain close to the mother.
- INDEPENDENT AGE: 6-12 months
- INDEPENDENT SIZE: 7-10 inch body; 10-16 ounces
- ADULT SIZE: About the size of a cat
- Body: 13-20 inches
- Tail: 9-21 inches
- Weight: 4.4 -12 pounds
- LIFE SPAN:
- IN THE WILD: 1-3 years
- IN CAPTIVITY: 8 years
REPRODUCTION:
- MATING SEASON: Feb.- June
- MATING AGE: 1 year
- NUMBER OF LITTERS: In the North: 1 per year, in the South: 2 per year
- LITTER SIZE: 5-20
- NUMBER OF REPRODUCTIVE YEARS: 2
- OTHER FACTS:
- Females are polyestrous, which means she has more than one fertile period per year.
- After the first mating, the female is no longer receptive and will even attack an advancing male.
- Females have 13 nipples inside the pouch.
- Males do not have a pouch.
This page created by: Tina Reynolds