The New International Encyclopædia/Yapock
Appearance
YAPOCK (named from the Oyapok River, between French Guiana and Brazil). An aquatic opossum (Chironectes palmatus) of Central and South America, rather larger than a rat, and differing from the true opossums mainly in its webbed hind feet and aquatic habits, it has capacious cheek-pouches, in which it stows away its food, which consists largely of crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic insects, until it can retire to a comfortable eating place. Its marsupial pouch is perfect.