Opossums are covered with short silvery fur interspersed with longer course white-tipped hairs. Each foot has five toes equipped with a sharp claw except for the inner toe of the hind foot which has no claw and is opposable like the human thumb. This greatly aids the animal in climbing trees, a major part of its lot in life. The tail is bare and prehensile, allowing the possum to stabilize itself in the tree branches, though they do not swing from their tails like monkeys. Generally shy and slow moving, the opossum relies on stealth and a nocturnal lifestyle to avoid danger.
Opossums have large mouths which contain a number of sharp jagged teeth.
In response to a threat however, an opossum is more likely to resort to a different tactic than biting, they pretend to be dead. Opossums will often live in hollow trees, bedding down during the day in dry leaves and debris and venturing out at night to hunt for food. They will eat a wide variety of things, insects, eggs and corn being among their favorites. They have also been accused of stealing chickens. Its hollow in the tree was filled to overflowing with corn cobs, one of the reasons that it was discovered and made famous, a fate it would probably have gladly done without.