A marsupial mammal (family Didelphimorphia) the size of a large domestic cat, with pale, sometimes dark grey fur with a white head, naked ears, and a long, naked, weakly prehensile tail. It is a semi-arboreal, opportunistic omnivore. When threatened it famously ‘plays possum’, lying inert and rigid, lips drawn back exposing the teeth, saliva collecting at the corners of the mouth, with eyes half-closed or closed, and it emits a foul odour from its anal glands. It is solitary, nocturnal, and inhabits forests, woodland, scrub, and marshes throughout much of the eastern USA and Central America.