What kind of milk do you feed a baby possum
Care of Orphaned Opossums | Loyola University Center for Environmental Communication
OPOSSUMS: RAISING FOR RELEASE
by Sharon Alonzo
The early spring brings the arrival of many baby opossums (Didelphis marsupialis), Louisiana’s only native marsupial. The young can be quite successfully raised and released into the wild when older. Release dates vary but it is best to release animals before the onset of colder weather since they will have to learn to find some kind of place to call home and acquaint themselves with the stock of food available. At their release the siblings will not band together but go off as single individuals.
The orphaned young are often times found in the mother’s pouch after the animal has been killed. It seems that the young can live for a short while in the pouch of the dead mother.
Some of the things to keep in mind when raising young are: 1) to keep the young animal warm by using a heating pad under their box, cardboard boxes are suggested, 2) provide some soft nesting material, cloth or straw, 3) provide darkness for these animals, since the babies will cover themselves up anyway. These animals are nocturnal, therefore, quiet and darkness are comfortable for them.
The young are noiseless except for a pronounced hiss when threatened or startled. The very young animals rarely move around unless disturbed. Older animals are active at night and even cardboard boxes can be escaped from.
Feeding: Determine whether your orphan can lap up liquids or if they need to be fed by the bottle. A pet nurser purchased from the pet store, a syringe, or an eyedropper may be used. If animals are sick use separate utensils for each animal. Young opossums may be fed Esbelac, (dilute 1 to 3 with water), whole milk, (dilute 1 to 1 with water), or infant formula, (dilute 1 to 1 with water). Esbelac is recommended and is purchased from the pet store. Babies need to be fed at least six times a day, decreasing feeding as the animal get older. Usually when the animals are unusually hungry they move around restlessly. Otherwise they remain snuggled together.
After feedings each animal needs to be stimulated to urinate.
This is accomplished by stimulating the urogenital area, which includes the urethra opening and the anus, with a damp rag, towel, or paper towel. The animal must urinate. This stimulation is the same type given by mother kittens to their newborns. Often times fecal matter is expelled at this time so be prepared. Individuals animals differ, some animals are easier to stimulate before being fed, others after. Some do not urinate more than once or twice a day, but they must urinate at some point. When the animal is urinating on its own, usually by the time it is lapping milk, the process can be discontinued. Some clues as to when to stop the external stimulation are damp bedding and dirty paper ont he bottom of the box or cage.
When the opossums have the lapping reflex use a metal or plastic lid of a jar to put liquid food in their box or cage. Feedings can be decreased to two or three times a day but be sure all has had enough. Rice cereal and formula may be mixed into a gruel like liquid to give the opossums next.
Then apples or bananas may be added to the rice cereal mixture gradually using less milk. Soon cereal may be thinned with water, fruits can be mashed separately and even mashed vegetables can be introduced. Teeth can come in very quickly at this time. This is also a time of increased night activity so beware that extra security is need for their box or cage.
After the introduction of fruits you can try moistened dry puppy food, gradually getting the older animal to a diet of puppy food and fruits and vegetables. I have found that the opossums I have raised will virtually eat anything but successful introduction into the wild can never be accomplished unless they will eat native berries and fruits. Always supply water to the animals. However, be aware that a small animal could drown in a bowl which he could not get out of. Decrease feedings to once a day in the evening. This sets them up to look for food and dusk and mimics their expected evening foraging.
I suggest a move of the animals outside where they can experience the smells and sound of the outdoors, as well as the correct temperature for an anticipated release.
A cage with a screen bottom will allow droppings to fall from the cage and is recommended. Provide an overturned flowerpot, some bedding material some branches and water for their outside cage. Also, this is a great opportunity to see the animals at their most active. Take time out at night to view their foraging and climbing, and restless nocturnal activity. These otherwise sluggish critters really expend energy at night.
Since the object of raising wild animals is toward that of a successful release once off the bottle as little handling and contact is beneficial. Larger animals have very sharp teeth, a powerful jaw and never reach a docile stage.
Pests and diseases are few. Listed here are the ones that we have encountered: ticks, fleas, mites, and mange in a few animals, are the main external problems. Internal parasites exist and the only other problem encountered was a tendency toward a prolapsed rectum (protruding rectal tissue) which was cleaned up when the animal was given Pepto Bismol.
Please remember, at all times, that you are raising this orphan to return it to the wild. It is easy to become attached to the animal and to convince yourself that it will make a good pet. It is illegal to keep an opossum; these animals are much better off in the wild; and they often start to bite once they mature.
Care Sheet - Baby Possums
From "Raising Baby Animals" by Donna Roell, OAAO Trustee
Formula: A. 1 can evaporated milk, 1 can water, 1 large egg yolk
B. 1 cup 2% milk, 2 egg yolks, pet vitamins, 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (always use same flavor)
Always add calcium supplement. Possums frequently have calcium deficiencies which cause deformities.
Baby cereal (oatmeal/HiPro/rice) to thicken formula.
Tip: Babies have difficulty sucking from a pet nurser; a medicine dropper or latex dropper is usually better. 46 days or younger, a monoject glue syringe is better (can get at craft stores).
Feeding: Almost impossible to feed if less than 46 days old, mouth is sealed too tightly to allow a feeder to penetrate.
46-56 days: 1/2 - 1cc every 2 hrs around clock
56-68 days: 1-2cc every 3 hrs throughout day
68-76 days: several cc's every 4 hrs.
After they are all fed, offer them food again. When full, they will stop fussing and settle down. As they start on solid food, baby food fruit or mashed fruit may be added to cereal; but fruit should never exceed 10% of diet.
Also, start adding dog food
Housing: Need to be kept warm. I keep mine in a plastic garbage can as long as possible. If you use a cage with a wire bottom, put towels on bottom to snuggle in and protect feet from wire bottoms. Very clever about opening doors, keep good lock on it! Boxes don't last long and they are out of them.
Favorite foods: Dog or cat food
Bananas
Apples/applesauce
Cheese/cottage cheese
Chicken
Watermelon
Tip: If they get out in the house, they will usually find their way back to where they are fed after dark.
FIRST AID:
If baby is cold to the touch when you receive it, do not try to feed it; the body has shut down and it cannot digest food. Warm it up in a box lined with towels placed on top of a heating pad. When it is warm and you feel it's time to eat, feed it a little Gatorade first, this will replace the electrolytes (essential body salts) that were lost. Then every 1/2 - 1 hr, start with eyedropper and then start formula.
Most common causes of diarrhea are overfeeding; better to underfeed than overfeed. If you are feeding prepared formula such as KMR or Esbilac, do not add vitamins; it may cause vitamin toxicity.
After each feeding, animals stomach should appear to be gently rounded and feel soft when pressed.
Constipation: A. Dilute formula for few feedings
B. Add drop of cooking oil to formula
Diarrhea: Drop of Pepto Bismol in animal's mouth
Sometimes, baby will refuse formula at first because it doesn't smell or taste like Mom.
After about 24 hours, he'll realize that's all there is and will start to drink.
Remember, these are only guidelines and each baby has a mind of its own; so a lot of what we try to do is by trial and error until the baby tells us it's right.
Esbilac recommends usage for: dogs, squirrels, chipmunks, opossum, rabbit, ferret, groundhogs.
KMR: cats, raccoons, badgers, skunks, bobcats.
how to feed milk by laying eggs
The Australian platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus ) is the most unusual of mammals. It is an egg-laying animal that sweats milk, has poisonous spurs, and its sex is determined by ten sex chromosomes. An international team of researchers has mapped the platypus genome and likely found answers to questions about the origin of some of its features and ours.
The platypus has been throwing questions at scientists since its discovery — and it has been known to Europeans since the 18th century. Some questions remained unanswered until very recently.
Now, an important step has been taken in the study of the platypus - for the first time, an international team of researchers, led by biologists from the University of Copenhagen, has carried out genetic mapping of the complete platypus genome.
Study published in Nature .
“The complete genome gave us answers to the question of how some of the bizarre features of the platypus came about. At the same time, deciphering the platypus genome is important for improving our understanding of how other mammals, including us humans, have evolved. It holds the key to understanding why we and other placental mammals evolved to be live-bearers rather than egg-layers,” explains Professor Guojie Zhang from the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen.
The platypus belongs to an ancient group of monotremes (monotremes) that appeared on the tree of evolution millions of years before the emergence of any other group of living mammals.
Phylogenomic reconstruction shows that monotremes diverged from theria (actually animals, i.e. placental and marsupial mammals) 187 million years ago, and the evolutionary paths of the platypus and echidna went in different directions about 55 million years ago.
“The platypus belongs to the class of mammals. But genetically it is a mixture of mammals, birds and reptiles. It has retained many of the original features of its ancestors, which probably contribute to its successful adaptation to its environment,” says Professor Zhang.
The platypus is unusual in that it lays eggs but feeds its young with milk. In addition, female platypuses do not have nipples, but secrete milk from sweat glands.
We (both humans and placentals in general) have lost all three glycolipoprotein genes in the course of evolution vitellogenin , each of which is important for egg yolk formation. In birds, all three genes are preserved.
Platypuses, the study found, retained one of the three vitellogenin genes and lost the other two about 130 million years ago. The platypus continues to lay eggs thanks to this one remaining gene. It probably doesn't need some of the yolk proteins that birds and reptiles need, as platypuses have learned to produce milk for their young.
In all other mammals, the vitellogenin genes are replaced by casein genes, which are responsible for our ability to produce casein protein, the main component of mammalian milk. Professor Zhang and his team's research shows that platypuses also carry casein genes—their milk is similar to that of cows, humans, and other mammals.
“This tells us that milk production in all existing mammalian species evolved from the same set of genes derived from a common ancestor that lived over 170 million years ago — along with early dinosaurs during the Jurassic,” says Guoze Zhang.
Another feature of the platypus is the absence of teeth.
It was not always like this - his ancestors were toothy.
The modern platypus has two horny plates that are used for kneading food (very young platypuses have 8 teeth, but they are fragile and wear out quickly, being replaced by horny plates). Genetic analysis has shown that the platypus lost its teeth about 120 million years ago, when four of the eight "tooth" genes disappeared.
Another "strangeness" of platypuses is how their sex is determined. Humans (like any other mammal except echidnas and platypuses) have two sex chromosomes (X and Y) that determine sex - XX is female and XY is male. Monotremes have a more complicated system - they have 10 sex chromosomes, with five Y and five X chromosomes.
In 2004, scientists at the Australian National University in Canberra discovered that the platypus has 10 sex chromosomes, not two (XY) like most mammals. Accordingly, the combination XXXXXXXXXX gives a female, and XYXYXYXYXY gives a male. All sex chromosomes are linked into a single complex, which behaves as a whole during meiosis.
Therefore, in males, spermatozoa are formed that have XXXXX and YYYYY chains. When sperm XXXXX fertilizes an egg, female platypuses are born, if sperm YYYYY are male platypuses.
Genetic analysis suggests that the 10 sex chromosomes in monotreme ancestors were organized into a ring shape, which later turned out to be broken into many small pieces of X and Y chromosomes.
In general, the sex chromosome system of the platypus does not have much in common with a similar system in humans and other placentals. In particular, if our, placental mammals, X-chromosome was formed as a result of the fusion of the original X-chromosome of therians with part of one of the autosomes in the process of separation from marsupials, then the five X-chromosomes of the platypus were obtained as a result of multiple fusion and mixing of different autosomes, ancestral to all mammals. At the same time, it is curious that gene SRY , which is located on the theria on the Y chromosome and actually determines sex (read more about it, for example, in the article "It's a boy! How a CRISPR calf was born"), the platypus does not.
It is assumed that the most important gene for sex determination in platypuses is localized on the X1 chromosome. And this is a very interesting gene. The fact is that humans and all placental mammals in general, as well as many other vertebrates, have the AMH gene, which encodes the so-called anti-Mullerian hormone. We have it, like gene SRY is located on the Y chromosome, and the hormone it expresses during embryogenesis prevents the development of the Müllerian ducts into the uterus and fallopian tubes, while simultaneously promoting the development of the Wolffian duct into the vas deferens. In the platypus, the AMH gene is located on one of the X chromosomes, X1. By the way, on another X-chromosome of the platypus, X5, the DMRT1 gene is localized, which determines the sex in many birds, in particular in domestic chicken. At first glance, this seems strange: both of these X chromosomes, both X1 and X5, are present in both females and males, and if the sex-determining genes are localized on it, then how is sex actually determined? Scientists suggest that the matter is in the mechanism of incomplete dose compensation.
In females of real animals, including humans, one of the paired sex chromosomes is disabled. Thus, in females and males, in women and men, the expression of most genes located on the X-chromosome is generally the same. In monotremes, dose compensation is incomplete. That is, only some of the paired alleles on the sex chromosomes are muted, while the rest are expressed at full capacity. That is, in female platypuses, the expression of many genes localized on X chromosomes is significantly higher than in males. In this sense, the mechanism of sex determination in monotremes is similar to that in birds. And the mapping of the complete genome of the platypus and its comparative analysis with the genomes of other animals showed, both on the sex chromosomes of monotremes and on their autosomes, a lot of long sequences homologous to the chromosomes of birds, which once again indicates the evolutionary relationship of synapsids, that is, mammals, and sauropsids i.e. birds and reptiles.
Since the current analysis of the platypus genome is more complete and more accurate than all the previous ones, it made it possible to clarify the approximate time of divergence of various groups of animals on the phylogenetic tree. So, according to the authors of the work, the last common ancestor of man and mouse lived 85-94 million years ago, man and opossum - 150-167 million years ago, man and platypus - 163-191 million years ago, man and chicken - 297-326 million years ago.
description of the animal, where it lives, what it eats
Opossums are one of the most ancient animals living on our Planet, while they have practically not changed in appearance for millions of years. Thanks to the efforts of animators, a fascinating cartoon called "Ice Age" was released on the screens. The heroes of this cartoon are two interesting opossums, who are waiting for various adventures.
This article tells about the life of this fluffy, and sometimes funny animal, as well as its origin as a species.
Content
- 1 OPSSUM: Description
- 1.1 The appearance and features
- 1.2 where the opossoma
- 1.3 What is the Oposum
- 1.4 The nature and lifestyle
- 1.5 DRIVATION and offspring
- 1.6 Natural enemies Porpols
- 2 Population and species status
Possum: description
The possum family belongs to the class of marsupial mammals that live mainly in the American continent. It is believed that opossums represent the oldest inhabitants of our planet, which have been preserved in their original form since the Cretaceous period. At least that's what the experts think.
As for the American continent, scientists suggest based on their research that opossums first appeared in South America. After some time, the so-called "bridge" appeared, which connected South and North America.
Many species of animals living in North America appeared in South America, which led to the death of many representatives of the class of marsupials. The only good news is that some representatives of the marsupials managed to survive, adapting to the new realities of their habitat.
Not only did the opossums manage to adapt to new living conditions, they also spread to the territory of North America, up to the territory of Canada. There is one more fact that must be taken into account in the case of the history of the origin of the species: as a result of excavations, the remains of similar animals were found that once lived in Europe.
Apart from the fact that possums appeared on our planet millions of years ago, the first mention of these animals appeared in the writings of the priest and historian Pedro Ciessa de Leon somewhere in 1553. The works were called "Chronicle of Peru". In these writings, the Spaniard mentioned a very interesting, unknown to him mammal, which was small in size, small limbs, a long tail like a fox, and also a brownish coat color.
Rat opossums are the closest relatives of possums and they live in America. There are several varieties of possums that differ from each other, both in appearance and habitats.
Possum - interesting facts
Watch this video on YouTube
So, in the natural environment lives: The habitual habitats of this animal are associated with forest plantations growing in the coastal zone of various reservoirs. The diet includes cereals, mushrooms, as well as various insects and other small animals.
Virginian opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
It is also remarkable for its impressive size (comparatively) and weighing about 6 kilograms. It prefers to live within forest areas with high humidity, although it is found on the prairies. It feeds on small living creatures in the form of small rodents, small birds, chicks and eggs, as well as rabbit offspring.
Water opossum (Chironectes minimus)
Prefers to live near water bodies, eating fish and other inhabitants of water bodies, hunting them afloat.
Eats fruit whenever possible. Compared to other members of the family, it has weak reproductive properties.
Mouse opossum (Thylamys elegans)
It is characterized by small size, as it grows only up to 15 centimeters in length. It prefers to live in mountains and is found at altitudes up to 2,500 meters above sea level. The diet includes various insects, all kinds of fruits, as well as bird eggs.
Gray tailed opossum (Caluromys philander)
This is a small animal weighing 100 grams or slightly more with a body length of no more than 16 centimeters. The habitat is associated with flat areas, densely overgrown with low grass. It is also found near human habitation.
Patagonian possum (Patagonian
Opossum )
This is a tiny animal, weighing up to 50 grams. It feeds on various types of insects.
In addition to the listed species, there are other varieties of opossums.
Appearance and features
Despite the fact that there are many varieties of possums in nature, they all have characteristic external signs and features, so it makes sense to describe the common opossum.
These are animals of small size, with a body length of about 0.6 meters, while females are 10 centimeters smaller. If we compare the sizes, then the opossum can be compared with an ordinary cat, while the muzzle of the opossum is more elongated and pointed.
The opossum's tail is distinguished by the fact that it is not covered with hair, while it is powerful and thicker at the base. It should be noted that the tail is quite functional and helps the animal to move in the crowns of trees. In addition, the animal on the tail can hang on a branch and even sleep in limbo. The coat, although short, is thick and dense.
The main color of the animals depends on the species, as well as on the habitat, so there are animals:
- Dark grey.
- Brownish gray.
- Brown.
- Light grey.
- Black.
- Beige.
The common opossum has a gray coat with white hairs. The head area is lighter. The eyes, in the form of black beads, stand out noticeably against a light background.
The ears are small and rounded. Each paw of the animal is armed with five fingers with sharp claws. The jaws of this animal are quite primitive. There are 50 teeth in the mouth of this animal, 4 of which are fangs. The structure and arrangement of the teeth indicates the ancient origin of the species.
The peculiarity of the animal is the presence of a "bag" in which the offspring is located after birth. The offspring are born prematurely, and in the bag the cubs grow up and get stronger. The pouch is nothing more than a leathery fold that opens towards the tail. It should be noted that not all representatives of this family have a similar "bag", therefore, the offspring born into the world cling to the wool in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mother's chest, where they stay until the period of their independence.
Where the opossum lives
Today, these animals are found exclusively within the New World, although in the past their habitat extended even to the territory of the European continent, as evidenced by the remains of animals found in Europe as a result of archaeological research.
Possums live within South and North America, although recently the habitat of these animals has been expanding through the northern territories, reaching the southeastern borders of Canada, as well as the Lesser Antilles.
Opossums are found within various biotopes: animals are found in forests, in steppe zones, as well as in semi-desert conditions. They are found not only in flat areas, but also in mountainous areas, rising to a height of up to 4 thousand meters above sea level. There are several varieties of opossums, so it is not surprising that the habitat of these animals is so extensive. Some species prefer to live in the vicinity of water bodies, as they lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Most representatives of this family prefer to live either on the ground or in trees.
An interesting moment! Some species prefer to settle near human habitation, although in general opossums prefer not to meet humans.
What the opossum eats
We can safely say that opossums are omnivorous mammals, since their diet contains both animal and vegetable food.
As a rule, gastronomic preferences depend on the species, as well as on habitat conditions. As a result of observations, it was established that these animals do what they eat. It seems that these animals cannot get enough, but this is only an impression. In fact, possums are so prudent that they eat in reserve, so that if something happens, they can survive hungry times.
The diet includes the following food items:
- Berries.
- Fruit.
- Mushrooms.
- Various insects.
- Small reptiles.
- Small rodents.
- Fish, crustaceans, shrimp.
- Small birds.
- Bird eggs.
- Herbaceous plants.
- Leaves.
- Corn cobs.
- Cereals.
If you have a possum at home as a pet, which is quite fashionable in our time, then such an animal can be fed with all kinds of vegetables, fruits, chicken meat, and eggs. In addition, the animal can be given cat food, but in small quantities.
As a rule, opossums always have a great appetite.
Character and lifestyle
Opossums prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, acquiring a mate only for the breeding season. The peak of activity falls on the dark time of the day. During the daytime, these animals prefer to be in their shelters or in the crown of trees, hanging on their tail. About 19 hours a day, opossums go to sleep.
They are quite cautious and shy animals that prefer not to meet with a person, so the capture of an opossum is a rather difficult task, given the fact that opossums make sounds only in extreme cases. They are not talkative also because they lead a secluded lifestyle. They behave in a balanced manner, without showing unmotivated aggression.
Opossums can be envied for their skill in moving through the canopy of trees. Particularly interesting is the fact that the tail is used, which has reliability and strength, so the opossums even sleep, hanging on the tail. There are also ground-dwelling species, but there are many more tree-dwelling species.
Water opossums are distinguished by the fact that they feel great in the water, extracting food for themselves in such conditions.
As a rule, opossums prefer to move from place to place and do not stay in one place for a long time, therefore they do not have a permanent, let alone controlled, habitat. Species that live in colder climates hibernate during cold weather. If warmer periods occur at this time, the opossums wake up. When they wake up, they are refreshed, as they have to stay awake for a short time.
An important point! Those who have had such a pet at home claim that opossums are not distinguished by any kind of intelligence. Despite this, you will never get bored with possums.
Reproduction and offspring
Opossums form pairs during the mating period. Depending on the species of animals, the mating season occurs at different times. North American opossums breed up to 3 times a year, and species that live in warmer climates breed year-round.
Tree-dwelling species build something like bird nests for themselves. Land-dwelling species can find shelter left by other animals, as well as among the root system of trees and in other secluded places.
In general, opossums are very prolific mammals, as a litter can contain more than 2 dozen babies, although this is rare. Basically, up to one and a half dozen cubs are born. Despite the numerous offspring, not all survive, but the most energetic and strong, especially since the female has only 12 or 13 nipples. The female bears her offspring for 25 days, and smaller species for 15 days. The offspring are born prematurely and are more like embryos that weigh a maximum of 5 grams.
Marsupial opossums carry babies in their pouches where the nipples are, and species that do not have such bags carry their babies on nipples, for which the babies are held, and quite firmly. Babies begin to resemble their parents, somewhere in a couple of months, while their body is covered with hair, they begin to see clearly and gain weight.
The female feeds her cubs with milk for 3 months.
The female has a very difficult life, as the grown offspring move onto the back of the mother and she has to carry a lot of weight on herself, given that there can be more than a dozen children. After reaching 3 months of age, young opossums begin to eat adult food. By 6 or 8 months of life, both males and females become sexually mature animals. Living in the natural environment, the duration of these animals is about 5 years, and living in captivity, some individuals lived for 9years.
Natural enemies of opossums
Opossums living in natural environments have a sufficient number of natural enemies and this is not at all surprising, since the animal is small and rather shy. On occasion, opossums can become dinner for many predatory animals, as well as predatory birds. For young individuals, snakes are a great danger. These small animals also die from various diseases. Rabies causes serious damage to the number of these animals, and Virginian opossums are carriers of this deadly disease.
If opossums cannot physically withstand many natural enemies, then they can put on a show if the danger is a deadly threat. Possums are so skillfully pretending to be dead that not a single predator even suspects that they want to spend it "around the finger." The animal falls dead, while its eyes become glassy, foam appears from its mouth, and special glands secrete an aroma resembling a cadaverous smell. Predators, whose diet does not include carrion, sniffing the opossum, move away from the "carrion" as far as possible. When the danger has passed, the animal comes to life and leaves in its own direction. This trick helps opossums to survive among a huge number of predators.
Population and species status
Opossums are found in both South America and North America. The number of these animals is such that nothing threatens their future, therefore they have the appropriate status, since they do not require any protective measures. Naturally, a person, as a result of his life activity, has a negative impact on the life activity of many animal species, including opossums.
The wool of possums is in demand, therefore it is used to make various types of clothing. It is not surprising that many well-known manufacturers sew clothes from the fur of these animals.
Man needs more and more territories, which have to be taken away from representatives of the animal world. In turn, animals have to adapt to various, sometimes new, living conditions, which is what opossums do. Some South Americans eat opossum meat, and in some countries these animals are considered pests, so they are purposefully exterminated, although in fact they do not pose a serious threat to cultivated lands. Many animals die under the wheels of cars, being on the freeways.
An important point! At the moment, all of the above threats do not have a significant impact on the total number of opossums living within their range. This fact is due to the fact that possums are distinguished by their unpretentiousness, dexterity, endurance and, most importantly, high fertility, which is no less important.
