Order of North and South American marsupial mammals, containing 70 or more species in only one family. Usually semi-arboreal omnivores, having a very full jaw of teeth, moving with feet flat on the ground (plantigrade) and hind feet with an opposable digit with no claw, and a prehensile tails. The name "opossum" is based on a term in the Powhatan language meaning "white dog-like creature."
