Editing Virginia opossum (section)

=== "Playing possum" ===
[[File:PlayingPossum.jpg|thumb|When injured or threatened (e.g., by a dog), the Virginia opossum is known to [[feign death]] or "play possum".|alt=]]If threatened, an opossum will either flee or take a stand. To appear threatening, an opossum will first bare its 50 teeth, snap its jaw, hiss, drool, and stand its fur on end to look bigger.<ref name=":72">{{Cite web|title=Virginia Opossum|url=https://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrailOLD/speciespages/opossum.htm|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.psu.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601193804/https://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrailOLD/speciespages/opossum.htm |archive-date=2010-06-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref> If this does not work, the Virginia opossum is noted for [[Apparent death|feigning death]] in response to extreme fear.<ref name=":82">{{Cite web|title=Opossum Defense Mechanisms {{!}} Opossum Society of the United States|url=https://opossumsocietyus.org/general-opossum-information/opossum-defense-mechanisms/|access-date=2020-09-28|language=en-US}}</ref> This is the genesis of the term "playing possum", which means pretending to be dead or injured with intent to deceive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PLAY POSSUM {{!}} definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/play-possum|access-date=2020-09-28|website=dictionary.cambridge.org|language=en-US}}</ref>

In this inactive state it lies limp and motionless on its side, mouth and eyes open, tongue hanging out, and feet clenched.<ref name=":72" /> Fear can also cause the opossum to release a green fluid from its anus with a putrid odor that repels predators.<ref name=":82" /><ref name=":142">{{Cite web|title=Give opossums a break|url=https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/media-coverage/give-opossums-break|access-date=2020-09-30|website=Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies|date=30 March 2015 |language=en}}</ref> Heart rate drops by half, and breathing rate is so slow and shallow it is hardly detectable.<ref name=":72" /> Death feigning normally stops when the threat withdraws, and it can last for several hours.<ref name=":72" /><ref name=":142" /> Besides discouraging animals that eat live prey, playing possum also convinces some large animals that the opossum is no threat to their young.<ref name=":82" /> "Playing possum" in response to threats from oncoming traffic often results in death.<ref name=":92">{{Cite web|title=Why you should brake for opossums|url=https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/podcast/why-you-should-brake-opossums|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies|date=23 July 2012 |language=en}}</ref>