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Common brushtail possum

Trichosurus vulpecula

Photo by lori.tas
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

The Common Brushtail 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.

Habitat:

Cradle Mountain highlands.

Notes:

These two, probably siblings, broke into our cabin and had to be plied with vegetables to get them to leave. They nearly represent the two ends of their color spectrum.

Reference Links:

Common Brushtail Possum

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)
lori.tas
There was a discussion on another spotting about what not to feed wildlife. Marsupials in particular should never be fed process food. They are prone to a condition called Lumpy jaw, which, as the name implies, is a form of jaw infections. Even wild animals get it in poor conditions or from eating commercial animal feeds.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Marsupials of the World
Photographed
PublishedJuly 3, 2011

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