The opossum is an example of a(n) __________ mammal.

• A. placental
• B. monotreme
• C. oviparous
• D. eutherian
• E. marsupial

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the different types of mammals: placental, monotreme, oviparous, eutherian, and marsupial.
2. Placental mammals are those that give birth to live young that have developed inside the mother's uterus, connected by a placenta.
3. Monotremes are egg-laying mammals, such as the platypus and echidna.
4. Oviparous refers to animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother.
5. Marsupials are mammals that give birth to relatively undeveloped young, which often continue to develop in a pouch on the mother's body.
6. Eutherian is another term for placental mammals, emphasizing their complex placenta.
7. Identify that the opossum is a marsupial, as it gives birth to underdeveloped young that continue to grow in a pouch.