Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female hissing from tree cavity, North America

David Tipling / Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) at night, Canopy Camp, Darien National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, Panama.

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) joeys on mother, Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) mother with joeys in tree, Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) mother with joeys in tree, Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Konrad Wothe / Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) in rainforest at night, Panguana Reserve, Huanuco province, Amazon basin, Peru.

Roland Seitre / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) suckling babies, captive in rehabilitation centre after being paralysed by dog bite, Centre for PanAmerican Conservation, Panama City

Roland Seitre / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) mother and young, Panama City, Panama

Roland Seitre / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) mother who was paralysed by a dog bite is able to raise her young in captivity, Panama City, Panama

Christian Ziegler / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) walking on branch, Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Christian Ziegler / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) in tree, Smithsonian Tropical Research Station, Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Phil Savoie / Common opossum {Didelphis marsupialis} playing dead as defence strategy

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) young in mother's pouch, will nurse for three months before emerging, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) young in mother's pouch, will nurse for three months before emerging, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female hissing from tree cavity, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female hissing from tree cavity, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female portrait in tree, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female hissing, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female hanging in tree by prehensile tail, North America

Konrad Wothe / Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) female in tree, North America

Thomas Lazar / Common opossum female with young on back {Didelphis marsupialis} USA - captive

Mary McDonald / Opossum babies in pouch {Didelphis marsupialis} Eastern/Southern USA

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) mother with joeys in tree, Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Roland Seitre / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) mother and young, Panama City, Panama

Roland Seitre / Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), Panama City, Panama

Mary McDonald / Opossum babies in pouch {Didelphis marsupialis} Eastern/Southern USA

Thomas Lazar / Common opossum with babies clinging to back {Didelphis marsupialis} Minnesota USA

Thomas Lazar / Common opossum in tree {Didelphis marsupialis} captive Minnesota USA

Mary McDonald / Opossum babies in pouch {Didelphis marsupialis} Eastern/Southern USA

Thomas Lazar / Common opossum with babies clinging to back {Didelphis marsupialis} Minnesota USA

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Two Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) infants, aged 4 months, portrait, Centro de Rescate Las Pumas, Costa Rica. Captive.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Two Common opposum (Didelphis marsupialis) juveniles, portrait, Toucan Rescue Ranch, Costa Rica. Captive.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) juvenile, looking around, profile, Toucan Rescue Ranch. Captive.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) juvenile, walking, portrait, Cetas-IBAMA, a wildlife rehabilitation centre, Manaus, Brazil. Captive.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Three juvenile Common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) walking, portrait, Cetas-IBAMA, a wildlife rehabilitation centre, Manaus, Brazil. Captive.