The brown Common Brushtail Possum is the most common of all the
possums however, the Golden Brushtail Possum in the photograph is rare, although
there seems to be a reasonable number in some areas of Tasmania. The normal
colour of this possum varies from almost black through brown and grey to a
copper coloured form in Queensland.
They occur in any area there are trees, especially open forest country. However,
they have become an urban dweller common in gardens even in large cities and
have adapted readily eating most household scraps and living in household roof
space
.In their normal habitat they sleep by day in hollows in trees, hollow logs and
even on the ground. and feed at night on eucalypt leaves, blossoms, fruits and
pasture grasses. They are excellent climbers, living most of the time in trees
and have a moderately prehensile tail.
The female gives birth to one young, usually in the autumn, 17 - 18 days after
mating. The young lives in the pouch for about 5 months and then rides on the
mother's back for 1 - 2 months until it is weaned at about 7 months of age.
(Ref.- The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals)
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