Adaptation in a population of living things happens as a result of an adaptive trait. This is any inheritable trait that increases its survival rate so that it can live longer, reproduce longer, and have more offspring (that also have that trait). Adaptive traits can improve an animals' ability to find food, make a safer home, escape predators, survive cold or heat or lack of water.
The opossum is well adapted for its habitat in southern Canada, throughout the U.S., into Mexico and Central America (and spreading). They can live in woodlands, along streams, around farms, in neighborhoods, and cities. They can live in most habitats that are not too dry or cold, as long as there is a food source - and they will eat almost anything; fruit, plants, nuts, eggs, insects, rodents and poultry (omnivores) and even dead animals (carrion).
They have both behavioral and physical adaptations that help them to survive in their habitats. A behavioral adaptation that helps them survive when threatened - they play dead, becoming stiff and slowing their breathing. They even drool. They have many physical adaptations that help them survive too. They have a protein in their blood that makes them resistant to venom. They have large pupils and an excellent sense of smell to search for food at night. They have very agile hands and feet with sharp claws and a tail that can wrap around tree branches to help them climb (prehensile tail) and grasp objects.
For Discussion and Critical Thinking:
The opossum has adaptive traits that help it survive.
1. Name two of the opossums’s physical traits and how they help it survive:
2. Name a behavioral adaptation and how they help it survive.
3. How does their diet help them survive?
