Common brushtail possum
Nocturnal marsupial, widespread in Australia and invasive in New Zealand.
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a nocturnal, semiarboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand. Its scientific name derives from Greek for "furry tailed" and Latin for "little fox," and it was previously placed in the genus *Phalangista*. As the second-largest of the Australasian possums, it is distinguished by large, pointed ears and a bushy, prehensile tail with a hairless patch on the lower underside, adapted for grasping branches. Its forefeet have sharp claws, while the first toe of each hind foot is clawless but strong. The possum grooms using its fused third and fourth toes. Its thick, woolly pelage varies in color among subspecies, including silver-grey, brown, black, red, or cream, with lighter ventral areas and a brown or black tail; the muzzle bears dark patches. Males are generally larger than females and often have reddish fur on the shoulders. Both sexes possess a scent gland on the chest that secretes a reddish stain used for territory marking. The female has a forward-opening, well-developed pouch.
Primarily folivorous, the common brushtail possum mainly eats eucalyptus leaves but also consumes flowers, shoots, fruits, seeds, and occasionally animal matter such as insects, birds' eggs, chicks, and small mammals like rats. Its rounded molars are adapted for crushing food rather than finely cutting leaves, allowing it to chew fruit and herbs effectively. It forages on three or four different plant species per trip, unlike more specialized feeders. The possum is inventive and determined around human habitations, raiding fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and kitchens. Its once vast Australian distribution has been greatly affected by drought, epizootic disease, and invasive mammals. Introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s for a fur industry, it thrived with few predators and became a major agricultural and conservation pest.
- Scientific name
- Trichosurus vulpecula
- Head and body length
- 32–58 cm (13–23 in)
- Tail length
- 24–40 cm (9.4–16 in)
- Weight
- 1.2–4.5 kg (2.6–9.9 lb)
- Gestation period
- 16–18 days
- Lifespan in wild
- Up to 13 years
- Native to
- Australia
Lore & Background
The common brushtail possum is a nocturnal, semiarboreal marsupial and the second-largest of the Australasian possums. It has large, pointed ears and a bushy, prehensile tail that is hairless on its lower underside, adapted for grasping branches. Its fore feet are equipped with sharp claws, while the first toe of each hind foot is clawless but possesses a strong grip. The possum grooms itself using its fused third and fourth toes. The thick, woolly pelage varies in color, appearing as silver-grey, brown, black, red, or cream, with lighter ventral areas and a tail that is typically brown or black. The muzzle is marked with dark patches. Males are generally larger than females, weighing 1.2–4.5 kg with a head and body length of 32–58 cm and a tail length of 24–40 cm, and often have reddish fur on the shoulders. Both sexes have a scent gland on the chest that secretes a reddish substance, used to mark territory. The female has a forward-opening, well-developed pouch. Native to Australia, it is found throughout the eastern and northern parts of the continent, as well as Tasmania and several offshore islands. It was introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s for the fur industry, where it became a major pest due to a lack of natural predators. The species thrives in a wide range of habitats, including forests, semi-arid areas, and urban environments, and is the Australian marsupial most often seen by city dwellers. Its diet is mainly folivorous, with eucalyptus leaves a significant component, but it also consumes flowers, shoots, fruits, seeds, and occasionally small mammals such as rats. The northern subspecies has declined substantially, with populations contracting toward areas of higher rainfall and lower fire frequency.
Reader's Guide
The common brushtail possum is significant as one of the most widespread marsupials in Australia, found throughout eastern and northern parts, Tasmania, and several offshore islands, as well as in New Zealand after its introduction in the 1850s for the fur industry. In New Zealand, with few natural predators, it became a major agricultural and conservation pest. Its diet is largely folivorous, favoring eucalyptus leaves, but it also eats flowers, fruits, seeds, and small animals. It is inventive and determined around human habitations, raiding fruit trees and kitchens. The species faces threats in Australia from drought, disease, and invasive mammals, and its northern subspecies has declined substantially. In New Zealand, it is threatened only by humans and cats. Its ability to adapt to urban environments makes it a common sight for city dwellers.
Did You Know?
- The common brushtail possum's tail is prehensile and naked on its lower underside.
- It was introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s to establish a fur industry.
- Females have a gestation period of 16–18 days, giving birth to a single young that climbs into the pouch unaided.
- In New Zealand, brushtail possums are threatened only by humans and cats.
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