The Virginia Oppossum

A few are missing, but this skull has places for 50 teeth: the most of any terrestrial mammal in North America! These abundant and diversely shaped teeth served an adaptable, opportunistic animal: the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). First introduced to California in 1910, they are now seen year-round in much of our region. Their abundance is partially due to their ability to forage on just about anything. Sometimes they scavenge roadkill and may fall victim to cars while dining in the danger zone. Their toothy, squat skulls – about 5.7 inches at the longest – are unmistakable. It’s a good one to know, given their widespread presence and high mortality. This skull is among the 44,000+ specimens curated by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Department of Vertebrate Zoology, overseen by Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Krista Fahy, PhD. 

When you next visit, don’t forget a longtime favorite exhibit, our Mammal Hall. Find the Opossum and observe something unique about its behavior.