Common brushtail possum

The common brushtail possum has large and pointed ears. Its bushy tail (hence its name) is adapted to grasping branches, prehensile at the end with a hairless ventral patch. Its fore feet have sharp claws and the first toe of each hind foot is clawless, but has a strong grasp. The possum grooms itself with the third and fourth toes which are fused together. It has a thick and woolly pelage that varies in colour depending on the subspecies. Colour patterns tend to be silver-grey, brown, black, red, or cream. The ventral areas are typically lighter and the tail is usually brown or black. The muzzle is marked with dark patches. The common brushtail possum has a head and body length of with a tail length of . It weighs . Males are generally larger than females. In addition, the coat of the male tends to be reddish at the shoulders. As with most marsupials, the female brushtail possum has a forward-opening, well-developed pouch. The chest of both sexes has a scent gland that emits a reddish secretion which stains that fur around it. It marks its territory with these secretions. Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Scottsdale 2.jpg|Dark brown Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Scottsdale.jpg|Medium brown Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Scottsdale 4.jpg|Light brown ==Biology and ecology==

Range and habitat The common brushtail possum is one of the most widespread marsupials of Australia. It is found throughout the eastern and northern parts of the continent, as well as some western regions, Analysis of contemporary occurrence points suggested that the species is contracting towards areas of higher rainfall, lower fire frequency, and higher vegetation cover. However, a paper published in the mid-2020s announced a discovery that the populations in the Pilbara, and in the Mid-West of Western Australia where the species is almost extinct, were genetically closer to the subspecies found on the east coast and South Australia, and the now presumed extinct Central Australian subspecies, than those in the South West of Western Australia. Food and foraging The common brushtail possum can adapt to numerous kinds of vegetation but it is largely omnivorous. When older, the young is left in the den or rides on its mother's back until it is 7–9 months old. Females reach sexual maturity when they are a year old, and males do so at the end of their second year. Brushtail possums can live up to 13 years in the wild. Female young have a higher survival rate than their male counterparts due to establishing their home ranges closer to their mothers, while males travel farther in search of new nesting sites, encountering established territories from which they may be forcibly ejected. In New Zealand's Ōrongorongo population, female young have been found to continue to associate with their mothers after weaning, and some inherit the prime den sites. A possible competition exists between mothers and daughters for dens, and daughters may be excluded from a den occupied by the mother. In forests with shortages of den sites, females apparently produce more sons, which do not compete directly for den sites, while in forests with plentiful den sites, female young are greater in number. ==Relationship with humans==

, South Australia The common brushtail possum is considered a pest in some areas, as it is known to cause damage to pine plantations, regenerative forest, flowers, fruit trees, and buildings. Like other possums, it is rather tolerant of humans and can sometimes be hand fed, although it is not encouraged, as their claws are quite sharp and can cause infection or disease to humans if scratched. It is a traditional food source for some Indigenous Australian groups. Australia Although once hunted extensively for its fur, the common brushtail possum is largely protected throughout Australia. Tasmania gives crop-protection permits to landowners whose property has been damaged. While its populations are declining in some regions due to habitat loss, urban populations indicate an adaptation to the presence of humans. New Zealand Since its introduction from Australia by European settlers in the 1850s, the common brushtail possum has become a major threat to New Zealand native forests and birds. It is also a host for the highly contagious bovine tuberculosis. By the 1980s, the peak population had reached an estimated 60–70 million, but is now down to an estimated 30 million due to control measures. The New Zealand Department of Conservation controls possum numbers in many areas via the aerial dropping of 1080-laced bait. In Tasmania, possum meat is served at some restaurants. On Bruny Island, possum meat is sold at Bruny Island Game Meats, which also sell it at farmer's markets, including in Hobart. ==References==