The
Common Brushtail Possum (
Trichosurus
vulpecula, from the
Greek for
"furry tailed" and the
Latin for "little fox")
is a
nocturnal, semi-
arboreal marsupial of the
family
Phalangeridae, it is native to
Australia, and the largest of the
possums.
Like most possums, 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.
It is the
Australian marsupial most often seen by city-dwellers, as it
is one of few that thrive in cities as well as a wide range of
natural and human-modified environments. Around human habitations,
Common Brushtails are inventive and determined foragers with a
liking for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and kitchen raids.
In
New
Zealand
, where it was introduced in the 1800s, it is a
major agricultural and conservation pest.
Behaviour
The Common Brushtail is a nocturnal
folivore
During the day, Common Brushtails sleep in a den in a hollow tree
or any other convenient place, notably ceiling spaces that are not
securely sealed. Although primarily arboreal and not found in
places without trees to provide refuge, they spend a good deal of
time on the ground. They are able to stand upright.
The very loud hissing, crackling territorial call of the male
Common Brushtail has a harsh quality. They have a number of other
vocalisations, mainly consisting of pitched clicks. Most are also
relatively quiet. Socially they may be solitary or they may form
small groups which share territory.
Keeping of Brushtail Possums is prohibited in many areas, and they
do not make good pets. If hand reared they will become tame to
humans, but still keep an instinctive urge to explore their
surrounding area which can bring them into contact with a number of
threats. Not the least of which is the wild possums in the area
which will be highly territorial and aggressive to any new possum.
Feeding of hand reared possums is also involved, after weaning from
a replacement possum milk formula they need a good mixture of
native leaves and flowers, as well as fruits and vegetables. A
common mistake is to feed captive possums solely on fruit and
vegetables, which inhibits the correct development of gut microbes
required for digestion, and can cause death.
Pest status in New Zealand
The Common
Brushtail Possum was introduced into New Zealand to establish a fur industry and has now become a
major agricultural and conservation pest.
References
- Marsh, K. J., Wallis, I. R., & Foley, W. J. (2003). The
effect of inactivating tannins on the intake of Eucalyptus foliage
by a specialist Eucalyptus folivore (Pseudocheirus
peregrinus) and a generalist herbivore (Trichosurus
vulpecula). Australian Journal of Zoology, 51,
41-42.
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