The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, from the Greek for "furry tailed" and the Latin for "little fox", previously in the genus Phalangista) is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae. It is native to Australia, and the second largest of the possums. Like most possums, the common brushtail possum 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. It is the Australian marsupial most often seen by city-dwellers, as it is one of few that thrives 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. This is Fred and he raids our garden every night, having a liking for oranges and grapefruit.
I never knew they ate fruit like that. I guess there's plenty for them here in Florida. We see them sometimes but they are more of a nuisance coming around. Neat photo and info!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool critter, I love those red eyes. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
ReplyDeleteI don't like possums jumping around on our ceiling every night, underneath the roof. The noises are scary and the destruction can be serious. But they are welcome to live in all the trees in the backyard.
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