Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Description
Ringtail Possums are a nocturnal, arboreal (tree-living) mammal that has adapted well to living alongside humans. Ringtails are orange-brown to grey in colour, and are roughly the size of a small cat. Their tail has a distinctive white tip and is used to climb and jump (prehensile). They also have two thumbs on their front feet which allow them to climb trees with ease.
During the day, family groups of possums sleep in drays (nests) made from leaves, grass, twigs and bark.
Female possums give birth to 1-4 young, known as joeys. They remain inside the mother’s pouch for the next four months.
Adaptations
- Large eyes and acute smell help them to find food at night
- Comfortable living in and around humans, varying their diet to include a number of introduced plant species common in backyards
Feeding relationships
- What I eat: mainly leaves, flowers, seeds and fruit, but will also eat insects and birds eggs if the opportunity arises
- What eats me: Carpet Python, Powerful Owl, Fox, Cat and Dog
Interesting facts
Ringtail Possums eat their own scats (faeces) to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from their food. They are also the only species of possum where males help to care for the young, carrying the young joey on their back.