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The Water Opossum (Chironectes minimus)
The water opossum (Chironectes minimus), also locally known as the yapok, is a marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It is the only member of its genus, Chironectes. This semi-aquatic creature is found in and near the freshwater streams and lakes in Mexico, Central and South America to Argentina, and is the most aquatic living marsupial. The lutrine opossum also has aquatic habits. It is also the only living marsupial in which both sexes have a pouch. The thylacine, commonly referred to as the Tasmanian tiger, also exhibited this trait, but is now believed to be extinct.
The animal lives in bankside burrows, emerging after dusk to swim and search for fish, crustaceans and other aquatic animals, which it eats on the bank.
The name for the water opossum, “yapok”, probably comes from the name of the Oyapok River in French Guiana.
The yapok of Central and South America is superbly adapted to a life in water. It has long webbed toes on its hind feet, water-repellant fur, and a pouch that closes during dives. It hunts its aquatic prey of fish, frogs, crustaceans, and rests in a riverbank den by day.
True opossums are unique to North America alone.
The word “opossum” was taken from the native Algonquian word for the animal. Though the yapok as well as other marsupials in South America and Australia are called “possums”, most are not closely related to the Virginia opossum, and only derive their name by a generally similar shape and appearance.
The yapok is a small opossum, 27-32.5 cm long, with a 36–40 cm long tail. The fur is in a marbled grey and black pattern while the muzzle, eye stripe, and crown are all black. A light band runs across the forehead anterior to the ears, which are rounded and naked. There are sensory facial bristles in tufts above each eye as well as whiskers. The animal’s tail, furred and black at the base, is yellow or white at its end. The hind feet of the yapok are webbed, while the forefeet (“hands”) are not. The forefeet can be used to feel for and grab prey as the yapok swims, propelled by its tail and webbed back feet.
The water opossum has several adaptations for its watery lifestyle. It has short, dense fur which is water-repellent. The broad hind feet are webbed and are used for propulsion through water, moving with alternate strokes. They are symmetrical as well, which distributes force equally along both borders of the webbing; this increases the efficiency of the water opossum’s movement through the water. The yapok’s long tail also aids in swimming.
Being a marsupial and at the same time an aquatic animal, the water opossum has evolved a way to protect its young while swimming. A strong ring of muscle makes the pouch (which opens to the rear) watertight, so the young remain dry, even when the mother is totally immersed in water. The male also has a pouch (although not as watertight as the female’s), where he places his genitalia before swimming. This is thought to prevent it from becoming tangled in aquatic vegetation and is probably helpful in streamlining the animal as well.
Yapoks mate in December and a litter of one to five young is born 27 weeks later in the nest. By 22 days the offspring are beginning to show some fur, and by 40 days or so their eyes are open, their bodies protruding from the mother’s pouch. At 48 days of age, the young opossums detach from the nipples, but still nurse and sleep with the mother.
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