Possums and Cuscuses: Phalangeridae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Conservation Status, Ground Cuscus (phalanger Gymnotis): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CUSCUSES POSSUMS AND PEOPLE
common tailed brush pest
Phalangers are found in New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, and a few other small islands. The common brush-tailed possum was introduced in New Zealand over a century ago and has become an alien (non-native) pest species.
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Possums and cuscuses spend their lives in trees. Most live in rainforests. However, the common brush-tailed possum has adapted to life in developed areas. It is often found in suburban gardens and city parks. Sometimes it becomes a pest when it makes its home in buildings by finding openings in the roofline and nesting between the house ceiling and the roof.
Possums and cuscuses are herbivores, eating almost exclusively plants. Some eat mainly leaves, while others eat mainly fruit. The common brush-tailed possum eats a wider variety of foods than most members of this family, adapting its diet to what is abundant in any given area.
Cuscuses are hunted for meat and sometimes fur in New Guinea. Some species, such as the common spotted cuscus, are also sold as pets. Cuscuses play a role in religious beliefs in some parts of Indonesia, and in these areas, they are not eaten. The common brush-tailed possum is considered a pest in many areas. The Telefomin cuscus was not discovered until the late 1980s, and so it is of special interest to scientists.
Additional Topics
The Phalangeridae family, or phalangers (fah-LAN-jerz), are made up of five groups of species. Three of these groups are cuscuses and two are possums. Phalangers are small- to medium-sized marsupial mammals. Like all marsupial mammals, the females give birth to tiny, underdeveloped young that finish their development in their mother's pouch. Possums and cuscuses range in size from 24 to 47 …
Most members of this family are nocturnal, or active at night, but the black-spotted cuscus and the Sulawesi bear cuscus feed during the day. All species are arboreal (tree-dwelling) except for the ground cuscus—but even though this animal lives in burrows underground, it is a good climber, and climbs trees to feed on fruit. Little is known about the social behavior of members of this famil…
Physical characteristics: The ground cuscus has fur that is light to dark gray with a stripe down its back. Geographic range: This cuscus is found in New Guinea and the Aru Islands. Habitat: This animal lives in the rainforest from sea level to 8,900 feet (2,700 meters). Diet: The ground cuscus eats mostly fruit, but will also eat leaves and sometimes insects and small vertebrates (animals with a …
Physical characteristics: The common brush-tailed possum varies widely in size and color. Its fur can be black, gray, reddish, or brown. In the colder parts of its range, individuals tend to be larger and furrier than those who live in warmer regions. Unlike some members of this family, the common brush-tailed has a patch of bushy fur on its tail. Geographic range: Brush-tailed possums live in eas…
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