Me at every speaking event:
don’t talk about opossum vaginas don’t talk about opossum vaginas don’t talk about opossum vaginas don’t talk about opossum vaginas
Me after 10 seconds of arguing internally: ok we’re all adults here, right? Let’s have a chat... about opossum vaginas

Ok guys I see that there are some people intrigued about “what is so special about opossum vaginas;” so before I start lemme plug this AMAZING 88 PAGE PUBLICATION SOLELY ABOUT THE ALIEN ANATOMY THAT IS THE VIRGINIA OPOSSUM
https://www.uaex.edu/environment-nature/wildlife/docs/The_Opossum_Its_Amazing_Story.pdf

Now if you don’t want to read all 88pgs, I’ll give you a short synopsis.
Let’s start with the basics: #1. Virginia Opossums are North America’s ONLY marsupial, meaning they carry their young in a pouch on their abdomen.

Number 2. Opossums have TWO vaginas - twice the fun? Maybe. Males also have a bifurcated penis to match! Generally, a female can have over 20+ babies per litter, but can only support 13 babies, as she only has 13 nipples, 12 arranged in a circle and one in the middle.

Now here’s where the crazy cool stuff comes in: Opossums have a very short pregnancy period - it takes about 10-12 days of baking for these babies to be ready enough to scramble out & into the pouch. They have overdeveloped front limbs, & TEMPORARY CLAWS THAT FALL OFF.

Now you must be thinking: “two vaginas = two perfectly fine birthing pathways for these temporarily-clawed fetuses to travel to the new world.”
WRONG. They don’t use EITHER of their vaginas to give birth. Instead...

@AnneWHilborn coined it first I believe, but - THEY CREATE A 3RD SPACE PORTAL VAGINA THAT OPENS UP WITHIN THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE TO GIVE BIRTH ONTO THEIR ABDOMEN WHERE BABIES SWIM OUT & DOWN INTO THE POUCH. This 3rd vagina then CLOSES without ANY EVIDENCE IT EVER EXISTED AFTER

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! These “embryos” (so small that 20 could fit into a tsp, as quoted by the Opossum Society) swim down her fur, into her pouch, & must find a nipple to attach to. Shortly after attaching, their claws fall off & the nipple engorges in their mouth, WHICH SEALS SHUT

Their mouths literally seal back together around the nipple, so they become firmly attached, keeping them cozy inside while mom wanders looking for food. The nipple basically drips formula in the back of their throat while they’re attached.

The pouch then becomes essentially an external womb - it is warm and it is MOIST. It will hold the babes for 2-3 months until the babies start climbing out on moms back and start checking out the food Mom is eating.

In case you’re wondering - this opossum mom & babies were rehabilitated at @BRWildlifeCtr after mom was injured. She was rehabbed w/ her babies & everyone was released once healed!

We often get baby opossums because if mom is hit by a car and dies, the babies can survive for a short time in her pouch. If it’s safe to do so, and you’re comfortable, please keep an eye out in spring and summer for dead opossums on the road - there could be live babies!

I’ll conclude this thread with a few more facts:
Opossums can eat thousands of ticks in a single summer (they groom them off themselves & eat them!)
They are immune to rattlesnake venom
They have a lower body temp which makes them a lower risk of contracting rabies!