Ruqayyah Snyder
Possums are small marsupials that are found across Australia. They can range in size from the size of a mouse to the size of a cat. The most common possums found in backyards and urban areas are the Common Brushtail Possum and the Common Ringtail Possum. Possums are creatures of habit and are usually wary of people. They live in the trees and occasionally come down to the ground to look for food. They are known to eat fruits and flowers from gardens. Possums are also known to take up residence in the ceiling spaces of homes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Common Brushtail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum, Western Pygmy Possum, Eastern Pygmy Possum, Leadbeater's Possum, Mahogany Glider, Short-eared Brushtail Possum, Bobuck, Sugar Glider |
| Size | Ranges from the size of a mouse to the size of a cat |
| Weight | From 15 grams to 5 kilograms |
| Colour | Silver-grey, brown, black, gold, copper, grey-brown, light brown, green, white/grey |
| Eyes | Bulging, Black, Yellowish |
| Nose | Pinkish |
| Ears | Pointed, Small |
| Tail | Long, tapering, bushy, prehensile, white-tipped, naked on the underside, black-tipped, furry |
| Habitat | Trees, tree hollows, roofs, suburban gardens, mountain-ash forests, tea-tree swamps, eucalypt forests, woodlands, parks, mangroves, grasslands |
| Diet | Leaves, blossoms, fruits, small mammals (rats), eucalyptus leaves, insects, nectar, pollen, sap, flowers |
| Behaviour | Nocturnal, semi-arboreal, territorial, inventive and determined foragers |
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What You'll Learn
- Common Brushtail Possum: dark, thick, bushy tail; silver-grey, brown, black, or gold fur
- Common Ringtail Possum: long, tapering tail with a white tip; dark green fur
- Pygmy Possums: very small; light brown to grey fur with three dark stripes down the back
- Possum colours: fur ranges from copper to grey or black
- Possum habitat: found in trees, occasionally on the ground; live in urban areas and roofs
Common Brushtail Possum: dark, thick, bushy tail; silver-grey, brown, black, or gold fur
The Common Brushtail Possum is one of the most widespread and frequently encountered marsupials in Australia. It is native to the country and invasive in New Zealand, where it was introduced in the 1830s or 1850s. This possum is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal, and folivorous species. It is also an opportunistic eater, consuming small mammals and even scavenging for food in suburban areas.
The Common Brushtail Possum is easily recognised by its dark, thick, and bushy tail, which can grow up to 40 cm in length. Its fur can be silver-grey, brown, black, or gold, with copper-coloured variations in northern Queensland and grey to blackish shades in the southern states. It has a dark muzzle, large pointed ears, and yellowish hands and feet. The male Common Brushtail Possum is larger than the female, weighing up to 4.5 kg, and often has rufous fur on its shoulders.
These possums are known to occupy a variety of habitats, from forests and woodlands to treeless areas. They are highly adaptable and can be found in urban environments, making their dens in roof cavities and even inside houses. They are usually solitary and non-aggressive towards each other.
The Common Brushtail Possum is a protected species in Australia, facing threats such as habitat fragmentation, loss of tree hollows, and predation by foxes, dogs, and cats. Conservation efforts are in place to protect this species, including fire management, controlling feral herbivores, and reducing the impact of feral cats and foxes.
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Common Ringtail Possum: long, tapering tail with a white tip; dark green fur
The common ringtail possum, or Pseudocheirus peregrinus, is a nocturnal Australian marsupial. It gets its name from its long, tapering tail, which has a white tip and a hairless underside. The tail is prehensile, meaning it can be used like another hand to grip objects such as nesting materials and tree branches. The common ringtail possum's fur is usually grey or black with white patches behind the eyes and a cream-coloured belly. Its limbs and tail may have orange-brown tinges. The possum weighs between 550 and 1100 grams and is approximately 30 to 35 centimetres long when fully grown, excluding the tail, which is roughly the same length again.
The common ringtail possum is well-adapted to arboreal life, relying on its tail and strong, sharp claws to climb trees. It has two opposable thumbs on its front feet and one on each hind foot, which help it to grip and hold structures. The possum also has hairless pads on its feet, which aid in climbing. As a nocturnal animal, it relies on its large, protruding eyes to see at night. Its sensitive nose and large ears help it locate food, predators, other possums, and its home range.
The common ringtail possum is found on the east coast of Australia, in Tasmania, and in parts of southwestern Australia. It prefers temperate and tropical environments and is rarely found in drier regions. It typically lives in forests of dense brush, particularly eucalyptus forests, and it helps pollinate plants as it moves from flower to flower. The possum feeds on a wide variety of plants, including the foliage, flowers, fruits, and sap of both native and introduced species. It also consumes caecotropes, which are material fermented in the caecum and expelled during the day while the possum is resting in its nest. This behaviour, called caecotrophy, is similar to that of rabbits and allows the possum to gain more protein and conserve water.
The common ringtail possum is gregarious, often living in communal nests called dreys. These nests are built from grass, bark, and sticks. The possum typically breeds between autumn and spring, giving birth to live young that are reared in their mother's pouch. The young remain in the pouch for around seven weeks before riding on their mother's back for another six months. The male common ringtail possum also helps care for the young by carrying them on his back when the mother is feeding—a behaviour that has only been observed in this species of possum.
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Pygmy Possums: very small; light brown to grey fur with three dark stripes down the back
Possums are small marsupials found across Australia. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and appearances. One of the smallest types of possum is the pygmy possum, which can be as small as 5 cm from head to tail and weigh as little as 10 grams. Pygmy possums are tree-dwelling and have large eyes, large ears, and long whiskers. Their fur is typically light brown to grey with three dark stripes down the back and a pale cream colour on the underside.
The pygmy possum family is divided into two groups: the genus Burramys and the genus Cercartetus. The genus Burramys contains only one surviving species, the Mountain Pygmy Possum, which is considered critically endangered. Mountain Pygmy Possums are small, rodent-like marsupials with an average weight of approximately 45 grams and a body length of around 110 mm. They are sexually dimorphic, with males being slightly larger than females. Mountain Pygmy Possums are endemic to the alpine regions of southern Australia and are the only Australian mammal completely restricted to these regions. They typically have a darker grey ring surrounding their eyes, and during the breeding season, males develop a tawny-orange abdomen and flanks.
The genus Cercartetus includes species such as the Eastern Pygmy Possum, Tasmanian (or Little) Pygmy Possum, and Long-tailed Pygmy Possum. Pygmy possums are found in a variety of habitats, including dense rainforests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands, and coastal heathlands. They are typically solitary, with males having larger home ranges than females. While pygmy possums can live up to five years in the wild, their biggest threat is habitat degradation and land clearing for agriculture and development.
In addition to pygmy possums, other common types of possums in Australia include the Common Brushtail Possum and the Common Ringtail Possum. Brushtail possums get their name from their dark, thick, bushy tails, while Ringtail possums are known for their long, tapering tails with a white tip. Brushtail possums are larger, resembling the size of a cat, while Ringtail possums are smaller and build nests out of sticks. Both types of possums are adaptable and can often be found in suburban gardens and roofs, where they may cause nuisance by eating fruits and flowers.
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Possum colours: fur ranges from copper to grey or black
The fur colour of possums in Australia varies according to species and location. The Common Brushtail Possum, for example, has four colour variations: silver-grey, brown, black, and gold. In northern Queensland, their fur can be copper-coloured, while in the southern states, they can be grey or even black. The Ringtail Possum, on the other hand, has thick, dark fur with the last third of its tail being white.
The Eastern Pygmy Possum is another species of possum found in Australia, and it has light brown to grey fur with three dark stripes down its back. The Little Pygmy Possum, native to southeastern Australia, has pale fawn fur on its back and grey fur on its belly. The Yellow-bellied or Fluffy Glider, found in northern Queensland, has a buttermilk belly, while the rest of its body is relatively light in colour.
The Leadbeater's Possum, Victoria's mammal emblem, has a similar appearance to the Sugar Glider, a common pet in the USA, but without the gliding membrane. The Sugar Glider has grey-brown fur, while the Mahogany Glider, found in north Queensland, has a limited distribution in tea-tree swamps and eucalypt woodlands.
The fur colour of possums in Australia, therefore, varies greatly, with some species having distinct markings, such as stripes or patches of colour, and others having more uniform fur colours.
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Possum habitat: found in trees, occasionally on the ground; live in urban areas and roofs
Possums are commonly found in trees, where they seek shelter and protection from predators. They are adept at climbing and moving through the branches, thanks to their strong claws and prehensile tails. While they primarily inhabit treetops, possums do occasionally descend to the ground in search of food or to move between trees.
In urban areas, possums have adapted to living in close proximity to humans. They are known to seek shelter in roofs, attics, and other man-made structures. Possums are attracted to these areas due to the abundance of food sources, such as garbage bins and leftover pet food. They are also drawn to the warmth and protection that built environments offer during colder months.
Possums tend to favour older suburbs with established trees, particularly those with large, mature eucalypts that provide ample foliage for cover and food sources such as leaves, buds, and insects. They are nocturnal creatures, so they spend their days sleeping in the canopy or concealed in tree hollows before emerging at night to forage.
While possums are well-adapted to urban environments, their presence can sometimes lead to conflicts with humans. They may cause damage to roofs or insulation as they seek shelter or leave droppings, and their nocturnal habits can result in noise disturbances for homeowners. Additionally, possums may come into contact with domestic pets, leading to potential territorial disputes or the transmission of diseases.
Despite these challenges, possums play an important ecological role in both natural and urban habitats. They contribute to seed dispersal and insect population control, helping to maintain ecosystem balance. Understanding their habitat preferences and behaviours is key for effective wildlife management and peaceful coexistence in urban settings.
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Frequently asked questions
Possums are small marsupials with strong, sharp claws and hand-like back feet. They have large bulging eyes and pointed ears.
The Common Brushtail Possum has a dark, thick, and bushy tail. Its body colour varies from copper in northern Queensland to grey or black in the southern states. It has a pinkish nose and yellowish hands and feet.
The Common Ringtail Possum has a long, tapering tail with a white tip. Its tail is prehensile, allowing it to grip branches and carry nesting material.
Yes, there are various possum species in Australia, including the Sugar Glider, Leadbeater's Possum, and the Little Pygmy Possum. Each species has unique characteristics, such as size, fur colour, and habitat preferences.
Possums are creatures of habit and often return to the same areas. Individual possums may have unique markings or scars that distinguish them from others. By observing their behaviour and patterns, you can start to recognise specific possums in your vicinity.
