Baby STO, hitching a ride on moms back!

[firefox2]

I thought I would share these pictures, my female Short-tailed opossum was out of the nest getting a bite to eat, with one baby riding on her back (there are usually 4 or 5 hitching a ride). The pictures are just too cute not to share.
For anyone not familiar with these animals, they are pouchless marsupials, and the babies travel on moms back when they are out of the nest.

 

[Socrates]

Oh how super cute! Thanks for sharing, they are great shots!

Are short-tailed opossums related to those we have here in Jersey (regular Opossums)??? They look different, that much I know.

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Wendy
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[spider]

Those are cute! Pategirl used to have one, but I think she got rid of it.

 

[mouse]

it looks like a big mouse!!
can i have it?....oh wait... i'm in california, don't think i can...
can't even have a wee gerbil....*pout*
well gonna get me a t then.
dianne

 

[firefox2]

Oh how super cute! Thanks for sharing, they are great shots!

Are short-tailed opossums related to those we have here in Jersey (regular Opossums)??? They look different, that much I know.

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Wendy
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The are related to the Virginia opossum, which would be the wild ones you see, but they don't look like them, these possums are 6-8 inches long, so quite small, but they have the same mouth, and 50 tiny sharp teeth just as a Virginia opossum I believe has as well. The only thing is these possums lost their pouch during evolution, so the baby attach to her nipples when they are born, and are firmly attached there for a few weeks. When they are born, they just look like tiny pink blobs