Opossums & Possums

[rowan]

These are not actually close relatives, as the continents of South America and Australia separated roughly 180 million years ago. Mammals in general remained small, shrew-like creatures 180 million years ago, kept in check by dinosaurs. When the continents of North & South America merged about 3 million years ago Opossums made their way north. Opossum is actually a Native American word. Europeans applied the same name to the Aussie variety upon arrival in the Red Continent, even though the Aborigines already had plenty of words for them, such as 'Kubbi.' Somehow the first 'O' got dropped, however. I believe the Opossum is the only marsupial living outside of Australasia. During the last Ice Age Eurasia and the Americas were connected by the Bering Strait land bridge (actually land, not ice, as sea levels plunged), but Australia/New Guinea wasn't quite connected up to the then South East Asian subcontinent. Man arrived by canoe or raft, but apparently brought no animals with him other than dogs (which became dingos). That's why Australian animals are so distinctive; indigenous land mammals being confined to marsupials and a variety of small rodents (muridae).

Mind-boggling fact of the day: Modern man settled in Australia before Europe.

[Galfon]

I believe the Opossum is the only marsupial living outside of Australasia.

I think there are still Bennett's Wallabies living in the Peak District..almost impossible to catch due to their incredible side-step..

[rowan]

Peak District? Is that in the Rockies or something?

[Stones of granite]

I believe the Opossum is the only marsupial living outside of Australasia.

I think there are still Bennett's Wallabies living in the Peak District..almost impossible to catch due to their incredible side-step..

Inchconnachan too, also Bennett's wallabies. Also known as red-knecks or Bogans.

[rowan]

Inchconnachan

South East Asia??

[Stones of granite]

Inchconnachan

South East Asia??

Yep.

If you turn the sound up, you'll be able to hear the conversation in one of the South East Asian dialects, called wee-gie

[rowan]

Couldn't quite place it, but I'd hazard a guess and say one of the obscure Tidung dialects of the North East Borneo region - possibly Bulungan. Am I right?

[morepork]

Not sure if serious....

[rowan]

There is also a flat variety of possum indigenous to New Zealand roads...

[Galfon]

Peak District? Is that in the Rockies or something?

It's there on t'interweb R'kid...southern bits of the Pennines..Staffordshire in this case.Quite rocky in places.

[Buggaluggs]

possums drool when scared, which makes people think they have rabies. They rarely get rabies, apparently. They eat lbs of tics and can essentially rid areas of the pesky bastards. Unfairly maligned creatures. They do, however, play possum. I picked one up by the tail that my cat had had a go at. I thought it was dead and nearly got nipped for my trouble.

[rowan]

Staffordshire in this case

My uncle had one of those, feisty little mutt too!

[Galfon]

Was it called 'Rocky' ?

[rowan]

Kelly, as I recall. I used to take her out for runs in the forest and throw a tennis ball as far as I could - and she'd always come back with it, though sometimes it took a while. That was in Gymea, South Sydney. My uncle had a house right on the edge of the forest. Good times

[Galfon]

[morepork]

Classic dogging.

[rowan]

Not sure about the dogs. But that looks a lot like my uncle

[Galfon]

His use of technology in dogging techniques was recognised as ahead of it's time..

[rowan]

Except Scott used horses, and some mechanical contraption that bogged the team down. Amundsen was the one who used dogs - plus skis - won the race hands down, and was already on the boat home while Scott and his crew were freezing to death inside their icy igloo with frostbitten limbs and nothing left to eat but a bite of horse's intestines. But somehow Scott became the famous one

So we've gone from opossums in the Americas and possums in Australia to horse's intestines and mule-headed Englishmen at the South Pole

[Galfon]

Well you have.
Snowy says:
"Reckon the ol'Naval officer did a great job, but could have used dog and ski more (they were in the mix).
As the Winter Olympics have shown for many years, the Norwegians are surprisingly adept at getting around in frozen conditions."

[rowan]

As the Winter Olympics have shown for many years, the Norwegians are surprisingly adept at getting around in frozen conditions."

Sadly for the English team, brollies & Wellington boots just didn't cut it.

[Galfon]

qed..wellies not even required to subdue a raging bear, just a smart suit, bowler and brolly.
You will no doubt be familar with this snaring technique.

[Galfon]

it proved quite successful back in the day..

[rowan]

Seems we have strayed from the topic, just slightly . . .

[Galfon]

Indeed - you did choose to bring the English and their brollies into the discussion, so the arrival of Steed could be expected, and I would say welcomed.