Common brushtail possum - wikipedia Common brushtail possum Common brushtail possum Common brushtail possums at Austins Ferry, Tasmania, Australia Conservation status Least Concern ( IUCN 3.1 ) Scientific classification Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Infraclass : Marsupialia Order : Diprotodontia Family : Phalangeridae Genus : Trichosurus Species : T. vulpecula Binomial name Trichosurus vulpecula ( Kerr, 1792 ) Subspecies T. v. vulpecula T. v. arnhemensis T. v. eburacensis T. v. johnsoni T. v. fuliginosus Common brushtail possum range The common brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula, from the Greek for `` furry tailed '' and the Latin for `` little fox '', previously in the genus Phalangista ) is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the second largest of the possums. Like most possums, the common brushtail possum is nocturnal. It is mainly a folivore, but has been known to eat small mammals such as rats. In most Australian habitats, leaves of eucalyptus are a significant part of the diet but rarely the sole item eaten. The tail is prehensile and naked on its lower underside. There are four colour variations : silver - grey, brown, black, and gold. It is the Australian marsupial most often seen by city - dwellers, as it is one of few that thrives in cities, as well as a wide range of natural and human - modified environments. Around human habitations, common brushtails are inventive and determined foragers with a liking for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and kitchen raids. The common brushtail possum was introduced to New Zealand in 1837 to establish a fur industry, but in the mild subtropical climate of New Zealand, and with few to no natural predators, it thrived to the extent that it became a major agricultural and conservation pest. Contents 1 Description 2 Biology and ecology 2.1 Range and habitat 2.2 Food and foraging 2.3 Behaviour 2.4 Reproduction and life history 3 Relationship with humans 3.1 Australia 3.2 New Zealand 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links Description Skeleton of common brushtail possum The common brushtail possum has large and pointed ears. It has a bushy tail ( hence its name ) that is adapted to grasping branches, prehensile at the end with a hairless ventral patch. Its forefeet have sharp claws and the first toe of each hind foot is clawless but has a strong grasp. The possum grooms itself with the third and fourth toes which are fused together. It has a thick and woolly pelage that varies in colour depending on the subspecies. Colour patterns tend to be silver - gray, brown, black, red or cream. The ventral areas are typically lighter and the tail is usually brown or black. The muzzle is marked with dark patches. The common brushtail possum has a head and body length of 32 -- 58 cm with a tail length of 24 -- 40 cm. It weighs 1.2 - 4.5 kg. Males are generally larger than females. In addition, the coat of the male tends to be reddish at the shoulders. As with most marsupials, the female brushtail possum has a forward - opening, well - developed pouch. The chest of both sexes has a scent gland that emits a reddish secretion which stains that fur around it. It marks its territory with these secretions. Biology and ecology Range and habitat See also : Common brushtail possum in New Zealand Brushtail possum in tree The common brushtail possum is perhaps the most widespread marsupial of Australia. It is found throughout the eastern and northern parts of the continent, as well as some western regions, Tasmania and a number of offshore islands, such as Kangaroo Island and Barrow Island. It is also widespread in New Zealand since its introduction in 1840. The common brushtail possum can be found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, semiarid areas and even cultivated or urban areas. It is mostly a forest inhabiting species, however it is also found in treeless areas. In New Zealand, possums favour broadleaf - podocarp near farmland pastures. In southern beech forests and pine plantations, possums are less common. Overall, brushtail possums are more densely populated in New Zealand than in their native Australia. This may be because Australia has more fragmented eucalypt forests and more predators. In Australia, brushtail possums are threatened by humans, tiger quolls, dogs, foxes, cats, goannas, carpet snakes and powerful owls. In New Zealand, brushtail possums are threatened only by humans and cats. Food and foraging Dentition of a common brushtail possum The common brushtail possum can adapt to numerous kinds of vegetation. It prefers Eucalyptus leaves but will also eat flowers, shoots, fruits and seeds. It may also consume animal matter such as insects, birds ' eggs and chicks, and other small vertebrates. Brushtail possums may eat three or four different plant species during a foraging trip, unlike some other arboreal marsupials, such as the koala and the greater glider, which focus on single species. The brushtail possum 's rounded molars can not cut Eucalyptus leaves as finely as more specialised feeders. They are more adapted to crushing their food which enables them to chew fruit or herbs more effectively. The brushtail possums ' caecum lacks internal ridges and can not separate coarse and fine particles as efficiently as some other arboreal marsupials. The brushtail possum can not rely on Eucalyptus alone to provide sufficient nitrogen. Its more generalised and mixed diet, however, does provide adequate nitrogen. Brushtail possums feeding Behaviour Brushtail possum ( brown form ) The common brushtail possum is largely arboreal and nocturnal. It has a mostly solitary lifestyle, and individuals keep their distance with scent markings ( urinating ) and vocalisations. Brushtail possums usually make their dens in natural places like tree hollows and caves but will also use spaces in the roofs of houses. While they sometimes share dens, brushtails normally sleep in separate dens. Individuals from New Zealand use many more den sites than those from Australia. Brushtail possums compete with each other and other animals for den spaces and this contributes to their mortality. This is likely another reason why brushtail possum population densities are smaller in Australia than in New Zealand. Brushtail possums are usually not aggressive towards each other and usually just stare with erect ears. Brushtail possums vocalise with clicks, grunts, hisses, alarm chatters, guttural coughs and screeching. Reproduction and Life history Brushtail possum with young The common brushtail possum can breed at any time of the year, but breeding tends to peak in spring, from September to November, and in autumn, from March to May, in some areas. Mating is promiscuous and random ; some males can sire several young in a season while over half sire none. In one Queensland population, it apparently takes the males one month of consorting with females before they can mate with them. Females have a gestation period of 16 -- 18 days, after which they give birth to single young. A newborn brushtail possum is only 1.5 cm long and weighs only 2 g. As usual for marsupials, the newborn brushtail possum may climb, unaided, through the female 's fur and into the pouch and attach to a teat. The young develops and remains inside the mother 's pouch for another four or five months. When older, the young is left in the den or rides on its mother 's back until it is seven to nine months old. Females reach sexual maturity when they are one year old, and males do so at the end of their second year. Female young have a higher survival rate than their male counterparts due to establishing their home ranges closer to their mothers, while males travel farther in search of new nesting sites, encountering pre-established territories from which they may be forcibly ejected. In the Orongorongo population, female young have been found to continue to associate with their mothers after weaning, and some will inherit the prime den sites. There is possible competition between mothers and daughters for dens, and daughters may be excluded from a den occupied by the mother. In forests with shortages of den sites, females apparently produce more sons, which do not compete directly for den sites, while in forests with plentiful den sites, female young are greater in number. Brushtail possums can live up to 13 years in the wild. Brushtail possum exhibiting exudative dermatitis, a condition that often results from stress associated with overcrowding, particularly in young males attempting to assert territory. Relationship with humans Abandoned baby possum handed to Fauna Rescue, Adelaide, South Australia Abandoned baby possum with Fauna Rescue volunteer, Adelaide, South Australia The common brushtail possum is considered a pest in some areas as it is known to cause damage to pine plantations, regenerating forest, flowers, fruit trees and buildings. Australia Its fur has been considered valuable and has been harvested. Although once hunted extensively for its fur in Australia, the common brushtail possum is now protected in mainland states, but only partially protected in Tasmania where there is an annual hunting season. In addition, Tasmania gives Crop Protection Permits to landowners whose property has been damaged. While its populations are declining in some regional areas due to habitat loss, urban populations indicate an adaptation to the presence of humans. In the mainland states, possum trapping is legal when attempting to evict possums from human residences ( e.g. roofs ), however possums must be released after dusk within 24 hours of capture, no more than 50 metres from the trapping site. In some states e.g. Victoria, trapped possums may be taken to registered veterinarians for euthanasia. In South Australia, they are fully protected and permits are required for trapping possums in human residences or for keeping or rescuing sick or injured wild possums and other native animals. New Zealand Main article : Common brushtail possum in New Zealand In New Zealand, the common brushtail possum is considered a major threat to New Zealand native forests and birds. European settlers introduced the common brushtail possum from Australia in the 1850s, and by the 1980s the peak population had reached an estimated 60 - 70 million. It is now an estimated 30 million due to control measures. There are no restrictions on hunting but the population seems to be stable despite the annual killing of the animals in the thousands. In New Zealand ( but not Australia where the disease has been eradicated ) it is a host for the highly contagious bovine tuberculosis. The New Zealand Department of Conservation controls possum numbers in many areas via the aerial dropping of 1080 - laced bait. References Jump up ^ Groves, C.P. ( 2005 ). `` Order Diprotodontia ''. In Wilson, D.E. ; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World : A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference ( 3rd ed. ). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8018 - 8221 - 0. OCLC 62265494. Jump up ^ Morris, K. ; Woinarski, J. ; Friend, T. ; Foulkes, J. ; Kerle, A. & Ellis, M. ( 2008 ). `` Trichosurus vulpecula ''. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Define Phalangista vulpina - Source : ' * ' ''. www.hydroponicsearch.com. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Brushtail Possum ''. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 19 July 2010. ^ Jump up to : Nowak, R.M. ( 1991 ) Walker 's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. ^ Jump up to : Cronin, L. ( 2008 ) Cronin 's Key Guide Australian Mammals. Allen & Unwin, Sydney. ^ Jump up to : Meyer, Grace ( 2000 ). `` Trichosurus vulpecula ( silver - gray brushtail possum ) ''. Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Jump up ^ `` Living with possums '' ( PDF ). Department of Conservation and Land Management. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Brushtail Possum ''. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment ( Tasmania ). Retrieved 24 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Living with Possums in South Australia '' ( PDF ). Department for Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` A Guide to the Mammals of Barrow Island '' ( PDF ). Chevron Australia. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` Tagged Barrow Island possums perish on mainland ''. Perth Now. Retrieved 24 October 2017. ^ Jump up to : Efford MG ( 2000 ) `` Possum density, population structure, and dynamics ''. In : The Brushtail Possum. TL Montague. ( ed ) Chapter 5, pp. 47 - 66. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln New Zealand. ^ Jump up to : H Tyndale - Biscoe. ( 2005 ) Life of Marsupials. pp. 250 - 58. CSIRO Publishing. Jump up ^ `` Trichosurus vulpecula -- Common Brush - tailed Possum ''. Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Jump up ^ Wellard GA, Hume ID ( 1981 ) `` Nitrogen metabolism and nitrogen requirement of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula ( Kerr ). '' Australian Journal of Zoology 29 : 147 - 57. Jump up ^ Harris PM, Dellow DW, Broadhurst RB, ( 1985 ) `` Protein and energy requirement and deposition in the growing brushtail possum and rex rabbit ''. Australian Journal of Zoology 33 : 425 - 36. Jump up ^ Green WQ ( 1984 ) `` A review of ecological studies relevant to management of the common brushtail possum ''. In Possums and Gliders. AP Smith, ID Hume pp 483 - 99. New South Wales : Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Limited. Jump up ^ Winter JW ( 1976 ) The behaviour and social organisation of the brush - tail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula, Kerr ) PhD Thesis, University of Queensland. Jump up ^ Brockie R. ( 1992 ) A Living New Zealand Forest. Pp. 172. Dave Bateman Auckland. ^ Jump up to : Johnson CN, Clinchy M, Taylor AC, Krebs CJ, Jarman PJ, Payne A, Ritchie EG. ( 2001 ) `` Adjustment of offspring sex ratios in relation to the availability of resources for philopatric offspring in the common brushtail possum ''. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 268 : 2001 - 05. Jump up ^ Roetman, P.E.J. & Daniels, C.B. ( 2009 ) : The Possum - Tail Tree : Understanding Possums through Citizen Science. Barbara Hardy Centre for Sustainable Urban Environments, University of South Australia. ISBN 978 - 0 - 646 - 52199 - 2 Jump up ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment > Living with Possums in Victoria - Questions and Answers Archived 2012 - 03 - 23 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 10 July 2012. Jump up ^ Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources > Plants and animals > Possums Accessed 10 July 2012. Jump up ^ Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources > Plants and animals > Permits and licences Accessed 10 July 2012. Jump up ^ Green, Wren. `` The use of 1080 for pest control '' ( PDF ). The use of 1080 for pest control. Animal Health Board and Department of Conservation. Retrieved 20 March 2013. Further reading Marsh, K.J., Wallis, I.R., & Foley, W.J. ( 2003 ). The effect of inactivating tannins on the intake of Eucalyptus foliage by a specialist Eucalyptus folivore ( Pseudocheirus peregrinus ) and a generalist herbivore ( Trichosurus vulpecula ). Australian Journal of Zoology, 51, 41 - 42. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trichosurus vulpecula. Blog.forestandbird.org.nz Brushtail possum Landcare Research NZ Common brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) at ARKive PossumBase Extant Diprotodontia species Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Infraclass Marsupialia Suborder Vombatiformes Phascolarctidae Phascolarctos Koala ( P. cinereus ) Vombatidae ( Wombats ) Vombatus Common wombat ( V. ursinus ) Lasiorhinus Southern hairy - nosed wombat ( L. latifrons ) Northern hairy - nosed wombat ( L. krefftii ) Suborder Phalangeriformes ( Possums ) ( cont. below ) Phalangeridae ( including Cuscuses ) Ailurops ( Bear cuscuses ) Talaud bear cuscus ( A. melanotis ) Sulawesi bear cuscus ( A. ursinus ) Phalanger Gebe Cuscus ( P. alexandrae ) Mountain cuscus ( P. carmelitae ) Ground cuscus ( P. gymnotis ) Eastern common cuscus ( P. intercastellanus ) Woodlark cuscus ( P. lullulae ) Blue - eyed cuscus ( P. matabiru ) Telefomin cuscus ( P. matanim ) Southern common cuscus ( P. mimicus ) Northern common cuscus ( P. orientalis ) Ornate cuscus ( P. ornatus ) Rothschild 's cuscus ( P. rothschildi ) Silky cuscus ( P. sericeus ) Stein 's cuscus ( P. vestitus ) Spilocuscus Admiralty Island cuscus ( S. kraemeri ) Common spotted cuscus ( S. maculatus ) Waigeou cuscus ( S. papuensis ) Black - spotted cuscus ( S. rufoniger ) Blue - eyed spotted cuscus ( S. wilsoni ) Strigocuscus Sulawesi dwarf cuscus ( S. celebensis ) Banggai cuscus ( S. pelegensis ) Trichosurus ( Brushtail possums ) Northern brushtail possum ( T. arnhemensis ) Short - eared possum ( T. caninus ) Mountain brushtail possum ( T. cunninghami ) Coppery brushtail possum ( T. johnstonii ) Common brushtail possum ( T. vulpecula ) Wyulda Scaly - tailed possum ( W. squamicaudata ) Burramyidae ( Pygmy possums ) Burramys Mountain pygmy possum ( B. parvus ) Cercartetus Long - tailed pygmy possum ( C. caudatus ) Southwestern pygmy possum ( C. concinnus ) Tasmanian pygmy possum ( C. lepidus ) Eastern pygmy possum ( C. nanus ) Suborder Phalangeriformes ( Possums ) ( cont. above ) Tarsipedidae Tarsipes Honey possum ( T. rostratus ) Petauridae Dactylopsila Great - tailed triok ( D. megalura ) Long - fingered triok ( D. palpator ) Tate 's triok ( D. tatei ) Striped possum ( D. trivirgata ) Gymnobelideus Leadbeater 's possum ( G. leadbeateri ) Petaurus Northern glider ( P. abidi ) Yellow - bellied glider ( P. australis ) Biak glider ( P. biacensis ) Sugar glider ( P. breviceps ) Mahogany glider ( P. gracilis ) Squirrel glider ( P. norfolcensis ) Pseudocheiridae Hemibelideus Lemur - like ringtail possum ( H. lemuroides ) Petauroides Greater glider ( P. volans ) Petropseudes Rock - haunting ringtail possum ( P. dahli ) Pseudocheirus Common ringtail possum ( P. peregrinus ) Pseudochirulus Lowland ringtail possum ( P. canescens ) Weyland ringtail possum ( P. caroli ) Cinereus ringtail possum ( P. cinereus ) Painted ringtail possum ( P. forbesi ) Herbert River ringtail possum ( P. herbertensis ) Masked ringtail possum ( P. larvatus ) Pygmy ringtail possum ( P. mayeri ) Vogelkop ringtail possum ( P. schlegeli ) Pseudochirops D'Albertis ' ringtail possum ( P. albertisii ) Green ringtail possum ( P. archeri ) Plush - coated ringtail possum ( P. corinnae ) Reclusive ringtail possum ( P. coronatus ) Coppery ringtail possum ( P. cupreus ) Acrobatidae Acrobates Feathertail glider ( A. pygmaeus ) Distoechurus Feather - tailed possum ( D. pennatus ) Suborder Macropodiformes ( cont. below ) Macropodidae ( includes Wallabies ) Lagostrophus Banded hare - wallaby ( L. fasciatus ) Dendrolagus ( Tree - kangaroos ) Grizzled tree - kangaroo ( D. inustus ) Lumholtz 's tree - kangaroo ( D. lumholtzi ) Bennett 's tree - kangaroo ( D. bennettianus ) Ursine tree - kangaroo ( D. ursinus ) Matschie 's tree - kangaroo ( D. matschiei ) Doria 's tree - kangaroo ( D. dorianus ) Ifola tree - kangaroo ( D. notatus ) Goodfellow 's tree - kangaroo ( D. goodfellowi ) Lowlands tree - kangaroo ( D. spadix ) Golden - mantled tree - kangaroo ( D. pulcherrimus ) Seri 's tree - kangaroo ( D. stellarum ) Dingiso ( D. mbaiso ) Tenkile ( D. scottae ) Dorcopsis Brown dorcopsis ( D. muelleri ) White - striped dorcopsis ( D. hageni ) Black dorcopsis ( D. atrata ) Gray dorcopsis ( D. luctuosa ) Dorcopsulus Small dorcopsis ( D. vanheurni ) Macleay 's dorcopsis ( D. macleayi ) Lagorchestes Spectacled hare - wallaby ( L. conspicillatus ) Rufous hare - wallaby ( L. hirsutus ) Macropus ( includes Kangaroos and Wallaroos ) Subgenus Notamacropus : Agile wallaby ( M. agilis ) Black - striped wallaby ( M. dorsalis ) Tammar wallaby ( M. eugenii ) Western brush wallaby ( M. irma ) Parma wallaby ( M. parma ) Pretty - faced wallaby ( M. parryi ) Red - necked wallaby ( M. rufogriseus ) Subgenus Osphranter : Antilopine kangaroo ( M. antilopinus ) Woodward 's wallaroo ( M. bernadus ) Eastern wallaroo ( M. robustus ) Red kangaroo ( M. rufus ) Subgenus Macropus : Western grey kangaroo ( M. fuliginosus ) Eastern grey kangaroo ( M. giganteus ) Onychogalea ( Nail - tail wallabies ) Bridled nail - tail wallaby ( O. fraenata ) Northern nail - tail wallaby ( O. unguifera ) Petrogale ( Rock - wallabies ) P. brachyotis species - group : Short - eared rock - wallaby ( P. brachyotis ) Wilkins ' rock - wallaby ( P. wilkinsi ) Monjon ( P. burbidgei ) Nabarlek ( P. concinna ) P. xanthopus species - group : Proserpine rock - wallaby ( P. persephone ) Rothschild 's rock - wallaby ( P. rothschildi ) Yellow - footed rock - wallaby ( P. xanthopus ) P. lateralis / penicillata species - group : Allied rock - wallaby ( P. assimilis ) Cape York rock - wallaby ( P. coenensis ) Godman 's rock - wallaby ( P. godmani ) Herbert 's rock - wallaby ( P. herberti ) Unadorned rock - wallaby ( P. inornata ) Black - flanked rock - wallaby ( P. lateralis ) Mareeba rock - wallaby ( P. mareeba ) Brush - tailed rock - wallaby ( P. penicillata ) Purple - necked rock - wallaby ( P. purpureicollis ) Mount Claro rock - wallaby ( P. sharmani ) Setonix Quokka ( S. brachyurus ) Thylogale ( Pademelons ) Tasmanian pademelon ( T. billardierii ) Brown 's pademelon ( T. browni ) Dusky pademelon ( T. brunii ) Calaby 's pademelon ( T. calabyi ) Mountain pademelon ( T. lanatus ) Red - legged pademelon ( T. stigmatica ) Red - necked pademelon ( T. thetis ) Wallabia Swamp wallaby ( W. bicolor ) Suborder Macropodiformes ( cont. above ) Potoroidae Aepyprymnus Rufous rat - kangaroo ( A. rufescens ) Bettongia ( Bettongs ) Eastern bettong ( B. gaimardi ) Boodie ( B. lesueur ) Woylie ( B. penicillata ) Northern bettong ( B. tropica ) Potorous ( Potoroos ) Long - footed potoroo ( P. longipes ) Long - nosed potoroo ( P. tridactylus ) Gilbert 's potoroo (. gilbertii ) Hypsiprymnodontidae Hypsiprymnodon Musky rat - kangaroo ( H. moschatus ) Taxon identifiers Wd : Q732477 ADW : Trichosurus_vulpecula ARKive : trichosurus - vulpecula EoL : 323856 Fossilworks : 231483 GBIF : 2440254 iNaturalist : 42808 ITIS : 552696 IUCN : 40585 MSW : 11000089 NCBI : 9337 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Common_brushtail_possum&oldid=817368759 '' Categories : IUCN Red List least concern species Possums Mammals described in 1792 Mammals of Tasmania Mammals of Western Australia Mammals of South Australia Mammals of the Northern Territory Mammals of Queensland Mammals of New South Wales Marsupials of Australia Mammals of New Zealand Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles with ' species ' microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies تۆرکجه Български Català Cebuano Čeština Deutsch Diné bizaad Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Íslenska Italiano עברית Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Suomi Svenska ไทย Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 27 December 2017, at 23 : 04. 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Question: what is the favorite food of a possum
Answer: Eucalyptus leaves