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Trichosurus vulpecula. The possum grooms itself with the third and fourth toes which are fused together. these plants is intermingled. Description . Adults can weigh around 1.5-4 kg. The common brushtail possum is the most familiar and abundant of the Australian possums. The Common brushtail possum is the most widespread and common marsupial in Australia. It weighs between 1.2 - 4.5 kg. The youngster will stay in the pouch and with its … It has grey fur on its head, back and sides.

It has a bushy prehensile tail which it uses to grasp onto branches. Brushtail possums (Trichosurus Vulpecula) are generally folivores. Description. It is a large possum with a bushy tail and pointy ears.

In 1837 some of New Zealand’s early european settlers brought Australian possums to New Zealand hoping to start a fur industry. The male is generally larger than the female. Females are smaller than males. Brushtail possums are marsupials from Australia. The brushtail possum is a semi-arboreal, nocturnal marsupial that weighs between 1.2-4.5 kg.

Southeastern Australia, wooded areas, including suburban parks and gardens . brushtail possum.

The youngster will stay in the pouch and with its mum for about 7 months before it heads off on its own. Mountain Brushtail Possum.
Feeding and diet. Also found in New Zealand. In the wild, the Common Brushtail Possum's diet consists of leaves, blossoms and fruits, but in suburbia it will eat almost anything. Common brushtail possums are thought to feed on numerous types of vegetation.



The brushtail possum is a semi-arboreal, nocturnal marsupial that weighs between 1.2-4.5 kg. The family Didelphimorphia includes the opossum discussed in this article, but there are over 100 other species in family.

Some species are silver-grey while others are gold and brown in appearance. Pip the gorgeous Common Brush Tailed Possum has come to the Zoo from Tasmania where she used to b a family pet. The possum is an Australasian marsupial which was later introduced to China and New Zealand.There are about 69 species alive today.. Possums are members of the Phalangeriformes.This is a suborder of the Diprotodonts, a large order which includes the kangaroos and its relatives.. Possums are native to Australia and are protected there. The mother is pregnant for 17 days before her young is born. European settlers aiming to establish a wild source for food and fibre and fur pelts for clothing introduced the common brushtail possum from Australia (from Victorian and Tasmanian Populations) to New Zealand in the 1850s; by the 1980s the peak population had reached an estimated 60–70 million. There are two entirely different families of animals called possums. Possums do occasionally take on small mammals including rats. They also identify the arrival of their enemy by making some sounds. Its fur is thick and woolly and varies from silver-grey, brown, black, to cream.

Common brushtail possum. Species Trichosurus vulpecula silver-gray brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula: information (1) Trichosurus vulpecula: pictures (1) Trichosurus vulpecula: … 11-13 days after mating over 20 infants may be born, although an average litter consists of 8-9 infants.


Its bushy tail (hence its name) is adapted to grasping branches, prehensile at the end with a hairless ventral patch. Like most other possums, they are nocturnal too. Like most other possums, brushtail possums have prehensile tail. Read on for more opossum facts. Brushtail possum possums have pretty long tail averaging 24 – 40 inches in length. The most common species are the common brushtail possum and the common ringtail possum. European settlers aiming to establish a wild source for food and fibre and fur pelts for clothing introduced the common brushtail possum from Australia (from Victorian and Tasmanian Populations) to New Zealand in the 1850s; by the 1980s the peak population had reached an estimated 60–70 million. A few more Brushtail Possum facts. This possum eats leaves but also eats flowers, fruits, and insects. OPOSSUMS AND POSSUMS AREN’T THE SAME ANIMAL. Pointed faces, thick furry tails which are not prehensile. Introduction by European settlers. Black fur is seen around the eyes, nose and sometimes along centre of forehead.