Opossum Brain and Nasal Replica
$32.00
Opossums have small, smooth brains lacking a corpus callosum, giving them one of the lowest brain-to-body ratios among all modern mammals.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Opossum Brain and Nasal Replica for Mammalogy
Opossum brain and nasal replica measures 4.8 inches in length. Didelphis virginiana brain is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from CAS specimen. 1:1 scale. Made in USA.
Characteristics of the Virginia Opossum
The Virginia opossum, also known as the North American opossum, belongs to the family Didelphidae. Specifically, this species lives in areas ranging from southern Canada to northern Costa Rica. This distribution makes it the northernmost marsupial in the world.
People commonly refer to it simply as the possum. However, it remains distinct from the Australasian possum. It is a solitary nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat and acts as a successful opportunist.
Opossums are familiar to many North Americans because they frequently inhabit settled areas. Consequently, they live near food sources like trash cans, pet food, and garden compost. Their slow, nocturnal nature and their attraction to roadside carrion often put them at risk. Therefore, opossums are more likely to become roadkill than other animals in their range.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Infraclass: Marsupialia
- Order: Didelphimorphia
- Family: Didelphidae
- Genus: Didelphis
- Species: D. virginiana
- Binomial name: Didelphis virginiana (Kerr, 1792)
- Conservation status: Least concern (IUCN 3.1)
Tell a Story of Biological Survival
Integrating a North American opossum skull replica with your opossum brain model offers a complete look at this successful marsupial’s anatomy. Furthermore, adding a Tasmanian wolf skull replica and a Tasmanian devil skull replica creates a rare comparison of global evolution. This grouping allows you to examine the extreme physical diversity found within the Infraclass Marsupialia across different continents.
While the opossum represents the thriving North American lineage, the Tasmanian wolf skull highlights the tragic history of an extinct apex predator. Consequently, including the Tasmanian devil skull replica provides a fascinating contrast between a modern scavenger and its distant relatives. Therefore, these combined specimens provide a comprehensive look at how diverse marsupial groups adapted to different environmental pressures over time.
Additional information
| Weight | 5.0 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.8 in |
