On their front feet the first two clawed toes point inwards and the next three clawed toes are directed opposite, allowing a pincer grip on twiggy foliage. On their rear feet the first toe is clawless and functions as a thumb. Their grasp on branches is further improved by having rough pads on their feet and a prehensile tail used like a fifth limb. Ringtail Possums feed mainly in the first half of the night and again just before dawn on young leaves, shoots, flowers, nectar and fruits. In urban area they fancy rosebuds and fruit from the garden.
Possums have large eyes as an adaptation to nocturnal vision.
Where such cavities are not available, they construct a spherical drey as big as a football of shredded bark and leaves in a tree branch. Ringtails reach sexual maturity after 12 months and generally breed once a year. Normally from May to July two joeys are born and they make their way to the forward opening pouch which contains 4 teats. After 4 months they leave the pouch, but the young continue to suckle for another 2 months and ride on their mother's back or are cared for in the nest or drey. As many are killed by cats, dogs, owls, eagles, foxes, humans and bushfires, few live to old age of 6 years.