Water opossum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yapok |
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| Conservation status | |
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Didelphinae
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Chironectes
Illiger, 1811
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C. minimus
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| Chironectes minimus (Zimmermann, 1780)
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The water opossum (Chironectes minimus), also known as the yapok, is a special kind of opossum that loves water! It's an aquatic marsupial, which means it's a mammal that carries its babies in a pouch and spends a lot of time in the water.
These amazing creatures have black and grey fur that's waterproof, just like a raincoat! They also have webbed back feet, perfect for swimming. Both male and female yapoks have a pouch that opens backward. This is super helpful because it keeps their babies or their fur dry when they're swimming. You can find yapoks in freshwater streams and lakes in Mexico, Central, and South America.
What Do Yapoks Eat?
The yapok is a skilled hunter in the water. Its webbed back feet aren't just for swimming fast; they also help it chase down its favorite meals! Yapoks mostly eat fish, frogs, and crustaceans like crayfish. They are very quick and agile underwater.
Where Do Yapoks Live?
Yapoks live in warm places across the Americas. They prefer clear, flowing freshwater, like rivers and streams, but you can also find them in lakes. They are mostly active at night, searching for food. During the day, they rest in burrows they dig along the riverbanks.
Images for kids
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Skull of a water opossum
See also
In Spanish: Yapok para niños
