brushtail possum
trichosurus latin

Brushtail possums can live up to 13 years in the wild.

The common brushtail possum has large and pointed ears.

The common brushtail possum is perhaps most widespread mammal of Australia.

The common brushtail possum can adapt to numerous kinds of vegetation.

Recent research indicates that the mating system of the mountain brushtail possum is variable.

The brushtail possum cannot rely on Eucalyptus alone to provide sufficient nitrogen.

In view of these findings, the currently accepted name, "mountain" brushtail possum, is no longer accurately descriptive.

Upon reaching reproductive maturity, the mountain brushtail possum will retain the same home range for life.

Like most possums, the common brushtail possum is nocturnal.

In New Zealand, brushtail possums are threatened only by humans and cats.

The Northern brushtail possum can grow up to 55 cm in length, not including its tail, and are around the size of a small cat.

The Northern brushtail possum eats a variety of plant matter, including fruit, leaves, flowers and seeds.

The mountain brushtail possum is also reported to require tree hollows for use as dens.

The common brushtail possum is largely arboreal and nocturnal.

Found north of Sydney the species was once classed as a mountain brushtail possum for which is its closest relative.

The mountain brushtail possum shows little sexual dimorphism.

The Australian brushtail possum, for example, was introduced to New Zealand a century ago.

Half the island is national park and a haven for rock wallabies, bats and brushtail possums.

Brushtail possums are usually not aggressive towards each other and usually just stare with erect ears.

As with most marsupials, the female brushtail possum has a forward-opening, well-developed pouch.

The fleshy fruit is consumed by the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).

They have no defence against introduced predators, such as common brushtail possums, (Trichosurus vulpecula), and rats.

Unlike its relatives and despite what its name suggests, the Northern brushtail possum does not have a bushy tail.

The common brushtail possum has a thick and woolly pelage that ranges in colour depending on the subspecies.

The common brushtail possum can be found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, semiarid areas and even cultivated or urban areas.

Populations that inhabit forested areas are mostly arboreal and often feed on brush-tailed possums, Trichosurus.

Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Mountain Brush-tailed Possum Trichosurus caninus (2002)

The basiocranial (back of skull) features are similar to Phascolarctos, while anterior (facial) features exhibit similarities with the genus Trichosurus.

In most phalangerid marsupials (a family of possums) except species Trichosurus and Wyulda the first and second digits of the forefoot are opposable to the other three.

The main threat is from predators is mustelids, brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula, cats, dogs and pigs The most threatened populations are in the southern areas of the species' range.

The nature reserve is home to a diverse range of mammals including sugar gliders Petaurus breviceps, brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecular and eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus.

The few mammals include the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and the Alexandria False Antechinus (Pseudantechinus mimulus), a small carnivorous marsupial found only in a number of small, isolated localities in northern Australia, including Alexandria Station on the Barkly Tableland.