When Opossums - commonly called possums - are threatened or harmed, they will mimic the appearance and smell of a dead animal. Their lips are drawn back, the teeth are bared, saliva forms around the mouth, the eyes close or half-close, and a foul smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. The stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over and even carried away without reaction. They typically regain consciousness between 40 minutes and 4 hours, a process that begins with a twitching of the ears.

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