content-left-bg.png
content-right-bg.png

Ringtail possum

WebPartZone1_1
PublishingPageContent

Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Description

ringtail possum

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.
WebPartZone1_2
WebPartZone2_1
WebPartZone2_2
WebPartZone2_3
WebPartZone3_1
WebPartZone3_2
WebPartZone3_3
WebPartZone3_4
WebPartZone4_1
WebPartZone5_1
WebPartZone5_2
WebPartZone6_1
WebPartZone6_2
WebPartZone7_1
WebPartZone7_2
WebPartZone8_1
WebPartZone8_2
WebPartZone9_1
Last reviewed 30 April 2020
Last updated 30 April 2020