Lyla Lindsey
Possums are furry, cuddly, and curious creatures that are among Australia's best-loved residents. They are well-adapted to living in close association with humans and are often found in suburban gardens and even inside residences. Possums vary in size, with some weighing around 10 grams and growing up to 7.5 cm, while others can weigh up to 4.5 kg and have a body length of up to 58 cm. The common brushtail possum, one of the most widespread marsupials in Australia, typically weighs between 1.2 and 4.5 kg and has a body length of 32-58 cm. The eastern ringtail possum, on the other hand, is about the size of a cat. Possums are mostly nocturnal and are known for their love of eucalyptus leaves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Brushtail Possum | Head and body length: 32–58 cm, Tail length: 24–40 cm, Weight: 1.2–4.5 kg |
| Eastern Ringtail Possum | About the size of a cat |
| Pygmy Possum | Up to 10 cm, Weighs around 15 g |
| Tasmanian Pygmy Possum | 7.5 cm, Weighs 10 g |
| Mountain Possum | Length: 5-12 cm, Weight: 15-45 g |
| Lemur-like Possum | Weighs around 800-1300 g |
| Greater Glider | Length: 40 cm, Weight: up to 1.7 kg |
| Feathertail Glider | Weighs 10-15 g |
| Yellow-bellied Glider | Length: 30 cm, Weight: Not mentioned |
| Squirrel Glider | Slightly larger than the sugar glider, has a fluffier tail |
| Daintree River Ringtail Possum | Body length: 35 cm |
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What You'll Learn
Common brushtail possum weight and length
The common brushtail possum is a native Australian marsupial that is also found in New Zealand. It is one of the most widespread marsupials in Australia and is the Australian marsupial most often seen by city dwellers. It is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae.
The common brushtail possum has a head and body length of 32-58 cm (13-23 inches) and a tail length of 24-40 cm (9.4-16 inches). Its weight ranges from 1.2 to 4.5 kg (2.6-9.9 lb), with males generally being larger than females. The male's coat also tends to be reddish at the shoulders. The possum has large and pointed ears and a bushy tail that is adapted to grasping branches. Its fore feet have sharp claws, and the first toe of each hind foot is clawless but has a strong grasp.
The common brushtail possum has four colour variations: silver-grey, brown, black, and gold. Its ventral areas are typically lighter, and its tail is usually brown or black. The muzzle is marked with dark patches. The possum has a thick and woolly pelage that varies in colour depending on the subspecies.
The common brushtail possum is considered a pest in some areas due to the damage it can cause to pine plantations, regenerative forests, flowers, fruit trees, and buildings. It is a traditional food source for some Indigenous Australian groups and was once hunted extensively for its fur. While it is largely protected throughout Australia, it is still considered a pest species in New Zealand.
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Pygmy possum weight and length
Pygmy possums are a family of small possums that make up the marsupial family Burramyidae. They are the only Australian marsupials that hibernate. There are five extant species of pygmy possum, four of which are endemic to Australia, with lengths ranging from 5 to 12 cm and weights ranging from 10 to 50 grams. The mountain pygmy possum is the only species restricted to the alpine and sub-alpine regions of mainland Australia. It was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1966 at Mt Higginbotham in Victoria.
The pygmy possum, the world's smallest possum, weighs around 10 grams and grows up to 7.5 cm in length. It is found in South Australia's Murray-Darling basin. The Tasmanian pygmy possum is another species of pygmy possum. It has a long tail that is usually coiled and longer than its body. Its nose and feet are pink, and its fur is grey-brown on top and lighter underneath.
The mountain pygmy possum is the only Australian mammal adapted to live solely in the alpine zone. It is also the only marsupial in the world known to store food and hibernate for extended periods. It has a diet of Bogong Moths, other invertebrates, seeds, and fruits. Females typically give birth to one litter of four young after the snow melts in the spring.
Pygmy possums are exceptional climbers, owing partly to their prehensile tails, which they also use to grab branches. They are nocturnal and omnivorous, consuming a diet of invertebrates, fruits, seeds, nectar, and pollen. Some species can leap long distances, and they spend most of their time on the ground.
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Mountain possum weight and length
The mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus), also known as the burramys, is a small, mouse-sized marsupial native to Australia. It typically weighs around 45 grams, with a combined head and body length of 11 cm and a tail length of 14 cm. The mountain pygmy possum is endemic to the alpine regions of southern Australia, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales, at elevations from 1,200 to 2,230 metres.
The mountain brushtail possum, or southern bobuck (Trichosurus cunninghami), is a medium-sized marsupial native to southeastern Australia. It typically weighs between 2.5 and 4.5 kg, with a body length of up to 58 cm and a tail length of up to 40 cm. The mountain brushtail possum is found in the Victorian Alps and south-eastern Queensland, typically at altitudes above 300 metres.
The mountain brushtail possum exhibits little sexual dimorphism, with males and females having similar body sizes. However, males tend to have reddish fur at the shoulders. On the other hand, the mountain pygmy possum shows some sexual dimorphism during the breeding season, with males becoming more tawny-orange on the abdomen and flanks.
Another possum species found in Australia is the common brushtail possum. It is one of the most widespread marsupials in Australia and is found in various habitats, including forests, semi-arid areas, and urban environments. The common brushtail possum has a head and body length of 32-58 cm, a tail length of 24-40 cm, and a weight range of 1.2-4.5 kg.
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Ringtail possum weight and length
The common ringtail possum, also known as the eastern ringtail possum, is about the size of a domestic cat. It is smaller than the common brushtail possum. It has a long, white-tipped tail that is prehensile, meaning it can be used as a fifth limb to grasp objects. The eastern ringtail possum is predominantly found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. It is also found in southwestern West Australia.
The eastern ringtail possum is a folivore, surviving mainly on a diet of eucalypt leaves. It also eats the flowers, leaves, and fruits of other native Australian trees. It is a nocturnal animal, sleeping during the day in a spherical nest made from grass, shredded bark, leaves, branches, and twigs. It is arboreal, spending most of its time in the trees and rarely coming down to the ground.
The eastern ringtail possum is grey-brown in color with white patches behind its ears and under its belly. It has long, sensitive whiskers and five clawed toes on each foot. The front two feet have a thumb-like toe that aids in climbing. The male eastern ringtail possum is known to help care for the young, which is unique among possum species.
The weight and length of the eastern ringtail possum are not specifically mentioned, but it is described as being about the size of a domestic cat. However, another source mentions that the lemur-like possum, which may be a type of ringtail possum, weighs around 800-1300 grams.
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Pygmy glider possum weight and length
The pygmy glider possum, or the feathertail glider, is the smallest gliding mammal in the world. It is native to eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to Victoria and extreme south-eastern South Australia. Weighing about 12 grams, the feathertail glider is only around the size of a small mouse. Its head-and-body length is just 6.5–8 cm, with a tail about the same length. The tail is oval in cross-section, only slightly prehensile, and has very short fur except for two rows of long, stiff hairs on either side, giving it the appearance of a feather.
The pygmy glider possum's fur is soft and silky, with a uniform greyish-brown colour on the upper body and white on the underside. Its tongue is long and thin, reaching up to 11 mm, and is covered in long papillae that give it a brush-like appearance. This adaptation improves the pygmy glider possum's ability to collect pollen and consume semi-liquid food.
The pygmy glider possum is an omnivore, feeding on nectar, pollen, and arthropods such as moths, ants, and termites. It is arboreal, spending up to 87% of its time over 15 m above the ground, particularly in eucalyptus trees. It is nocturnal, resting during the day in nests in tree hollows lined with leaves or shredded bark.
The breeding season for the pygmy glider possum lasts from July to January in Victoria, and may be longer in more northern regions. Females typically give birth to two litters of up to four young each season. The pygmy glider possum does not hibernate but can enter torpor during cold weather, curling into a ball and wrapping its tail around itself to reduce heat loss and conserve energy.
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Frequently asked questions
The size of Australian possums varies depending on the species. The common brushtail possum, for example, has a head and body length of 32-58 cm and a tail length of 24-40 cm. It weighs between 1.2 and 4.5 kg. On the other hand, the pygmy possum is one of the smallest possum species, growing up to around 7.5 cm and weighing only about 10 grams. The eastern ringtail possum, found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, is about the size of a cat.
The Tasmanian pygmy possum is the smallest known species of Australian possum, weighing around 10 grams and growing up to about 7.5 cm in length.
One of the largest known species of Australian possum is the greater glider, which can be up to 40 cm long, with a tail that is longer than its body, and weigh up to 1.7 kg.
