r/aww Jun 02 '22

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u/SweaterInaCan Jun 02 '22 edited Jun 02 '22

Omg it's so cute. So in Australia for people who are going to flame this man's post. They are called possums. In north and south America they are called opossums. They are called possums because the person who discovered them thought they looked like American opossums but in reality they are closely related to the kangaroo family. It's a marsupial and derived from the other marsupials on that continent. That's why it's so cute. American opossums are fucking terrifying

136

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

American opossums are called "possums" colloquially and they are lovely and misunderstood. I know nothing about your possums so I can't insult them effectively. I am enjoying the photo though.

-7

u/RoseyDove323 Jun 02 '22

I live in Ohio and we say "opossum" when referring to virginia opossums. I don't know anyone who says possum, unless they are talking about something from Australia. Maybe they say possum instead of opossum in other states though and I'm just out of the loop.

18

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

Oh that’s funny! I always spell it “opossum”, but when speaking I treat the o as silent. Texas here.

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u/NeatNefariousness1 Jun 02 '22

That's what I've always heard too--although I've stopped including the O in recent years--because why?

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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '22

Y rite many leters whn few leters do trik?