Possum

A possum (plural form: possums) is any of about 70 small- to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi (and introduced to New Zealand and China). The name derives from their resemblance to the opossums of the Americas (the name is from Algonquian wapathemwa, not Greek or Latin, so the plural is possums, not possa).

Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long thick tails. The smallest possum, indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial, is the Tasmanian pygmy possum, with an adult head-body length of 70 mm (2 3/4 in.) and a weight of 10 g (3/8 oz.). The largest is the bear cuscus that may exceed 7 kg (15lb. 6oz.). Possums are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal. The various species inhabit most vegetated habitats, and several species have adjusted well to urban settings. Diets range from generalist herbivores or omnivores (the common brushtail possum) to specialist browsers of eucalyptus (greater glider), insectivores (mountain pygmy possum) and nectar-feeders (honey possum).

Classification


About two-thirds of Australian marsupials belong to the order Diprotodontia, which is split into three suborders: the Vombatiformes (wombats and the koala, four species in total); the large and diverse Phalangeriformes (the possums and gliders) and Macropodiformes (kangaroos, potoroos, wallabies and the musky rat-kangaroo). Note: this classification is based on Ruedas & Morales 2005.


 * Suborder Phalangeriformes: possums, gliders and allies
 * Superfamily Phalangeroidea
 * family †Ektopodontidae: sprite possums
 * Genus †Ektopodon
 * †Ektopodon serratus
 * †Ektopodon stirtoni
 * †Ektopodon ulta
 * Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
 * Genus Burramys
 * Mountain pygmy possum, B. parvus
 * Genus Cercartetus
 * Long-tailed pygmy possum, C. caudatus
 * Southwestern pygmy possum, C. concinnus
 * Tasmanian pygmy possum, C. lepidus
 * Eastern pygmy possum, C. nanus
 * Family Phalangeridae: brushtail possums and cuscuses
 * Subfamily Ailuropinae
 * Genus Ailurops
 * Talaud bear cuscus, A. melanotis
 * Sulawesi bear cuscus, A. ursinus
 * Genus Strigocuscus
 * Sulawesi dwarf cuscus, S. celebensis
 * Banggai cuscus, S. pelegensis
 * Subfamily Phalangerinae
 * Tribe Phalangerini
 * Genus Phalanger
 * Gebe cuscus, P. alexandrae
 * Mountain cuscus, P. carmelitae
 * Ground cuscus, P. gymnotis
 * Eastern common cuscus, P. intercastellanus
 * Woodlark cuscus, P. lullulae
 * Blue-eyed cuscus, P. matabiru
 * Telefomin cuscus, P. matanim
 * Southern common cuscus, P. mimicus
 * Northern common cuscus, P. orientalis
 * Ornate cuscus, P. ornatus
 * Rothschild's cuscus, P. rothschildi
 * Silky cuscus, P. sericeus
 * Stein's cuscus, P. vestitus
 * Genus Spilocuscus
 * Admiralty Island cuscus, S. kraemeri
 * Common spotted cuscus, S. maculatus
 * Waigeou cuscus, S. papuensis
 * Black-spotted cuscus, S. rufoniger
 * Blue-eyed spotted cuscus, S. wilsoni
 * Tribe Trichosurini
 * Genus Trichosurus
 * Northern brushtail possum, T. arnhemensis
 * Short-eared possum, T. caninus
 * Mountain brushtail possum, T. cunninghami
 * Coppery brushtail possum, T. johnstonii
 * Common brushtail possum, T. vulpecula
 * Genus Wyulda
 * Scaly-tailed possum, W. squamicaudata
 * Superfamily Petauroidea
 * Family Pseudocheiridae
 * Subfamily Hemibelideinae
 * Genus Hemibelideus
 * Lemur-like ringtail possum, H. lemuroides
 * Genus Petauroides
 * Greater glider, P. volans
 * Subfamily Pseudocheirinae
 * Genus Petropseudes
 * Rock-haunting ringtail possum, P. dahli
 * Genus Pseudocheirus
 * Common ringtail possum, P. peregrinus
 * Genus Pseudochirulus
 * Lowland ringtail possum, P. canescens
 * Weyland ringtail possum, P. caroli
 * Cinereus ringtail possum, P. cinereus
 * Painted ringtail possum, P. forbesi
 * Herbert River ringtail possum, P. herbertensis
 * Masked ringtail possum, P. larvatus
 * Pygmy ringtail possum, P. mayeri
 * Vogelkop ringtail possum, P. schlegeli
 * Subfamily Pseudochiropinae
 * Genus Pseudochirops
 * D'Albertis' ringtail possum, Pseudochirops albertisii
 * Green ringtail possum, Pseudochirops archeri
 * Plush-coated ringtail possum, Pseudochirops corinnae
 * Reclusive ringtail possum, Pseudochirops coronatus
 * Coppery ringtail possum, Pseudochirops cupreus
 * Family Petauridae
 * Genus Dactylopsila
 * Great-tailed triok, D. megalura
 * Long-fingered triok, D. palpator
 * Tate's triok, D. tatei
 * Striped possum, D. trivirgata
 * Genus Gymnobelideus
 * Leadbeater's possum, G. leadbeateri
 * Genus Petaurus
 * Northern glider, P. abidi
 * Yellow-bellied glider, P. australis
 * Biak glider, P. biacensis
 * Sugar glider, P. breviceps
 * Mahogany glider, P. gracilis
 * Squirrel glider, P. norfolcensis
 * Family Tarsipedidae
 * Genus Tarsipes
 * Honey possum or noolbenger, T. rostratus
 * Family Acrobatidae
 * Genus Acrobates
 * Feathertail glider, A. pygmaeus
 * Genus Distoechurus
 * Feather-tailed possum, D. pennatus

In New Zealand
The common brushtail possum was introduced to New Zealand by European settlers in an attempt to establish a fur industry. There are no native predators of the possum in New Zealand, so its numbers in New Zealand have risen to the point where it is considered a serious pest. Numerous attempts to eradicate them have been made because of the damage they do to native trees and wildlife, as well as acting as a carrier of bovine tuberculosis. By 2009, these measures had reduced the possum numbers to less than half of the 1980s levels – from around 70 million to around 30 million animals.

Since 1996, possum fur, obtained from about two million wild-caught possums per year, has been used in clothing with blends of fine merino wool with brushtail possum fur – variously known as Ecopossum, Merinosilk, Merinomink, possumdown, eco fur or possum wool. Possum fur is also used for fur trim, jackets, bed throws, and possum leather gloves.