A
possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal
marsupialMarsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
speciesIn biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
native to
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
,
New GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, and
SulawesiSulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
(and introduced to
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and
ChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
).
Possums are
quadrupedQuadrupedalism is a form of land animal locomotion using four limbs or legs. An animal or machine that usually moves in a quadrupedal manner is known as a quadruped, meaning "four feet"...
al diprotodont marsupials with long tails. The smallest possum, indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial, is the Little Pygmy Possum with an adult head-body length of 70mm and a weight of 10g. The largest is the
Bear CuscusThe bear cuscuses are the members of the genus Ailurops. They are marsupials of the family Phalangeridae.The bear cuscuses are arboreal marsupials that live in the upper canopy of tropical rainforests. Almost nothing is known of their status and ecology. Although some scientists assign all...
that may exceed 7 kg. Possums are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal. The various species inhabit most vegetated habitats and a few species have adjusted well to urban settings. Diets range from
generalistA generalist species is able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources . A specialist species can only thrive in a narrow range of environmental conditions or has a limited diet. Most organisms do not all fit neatly into either...
herbivores or omnivores (the Common Brushtail possum) to specialist browsers of
eucalyptusEucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
(
Greater GliderThe Greater Glider is a small gliding marsupial found in Australia. It is not closely related to the Petaurus group of gliding marsupials but instead to the Lemur-like Ringtail Possum , with which it shares the subfamily Hemibelideinae.The Greater Glider is nocturnal and is a solitary herbivore...
), insectivores (
Mountain Pygmy PossumThe Mountain Pygmy Possum is a small, mouse-sized nocturnal marsupial of Australia found in dense alpine rock screes and boulder fields, mainly southern Victoria and around Mount Kosciuszko in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales at elevations from 1300 to 2230 m...
) and nectar-feeders (
Honey PossumThe honey possum or tait, its Native Australian name or noolbenger is a tiny Australian marsupial weighing just seven to eleven grams for the male, and eight to sixteen grams for the female—about half the weight of a mouse. Their physical size ranges from a body length of between 6.5 –...
).
Introduction into New Zealand
The
common brushtail possumThe Common Brushtail Possum is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the largest of the possums.Like most possums, the Common Brushtail is nocturnal...
was introduced to
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
by European settlers in an attempt to establish a
furFur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
industry. Its numbers in New Zealand have risen to the point where it is considered a pest.
There are no native predators of the possum in New Zealand. There have been numerous attempts to eradicate them, because of the damage they do to native trees and wildlife, as well as acting as a carrier of bovine
tuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. For New Zealand, the ecologically disastrous effects of the introduction of possums can be described as similar to that of the introduction of rabbits and
cane toadThe Cane Toad , also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to Central and South America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean...
s in Australia.
Since 1996, efforts have been made to use possum fur in clothing. A blend of Australian brushtailed possum fur with merino wool was developed by Untouched World, a New Zealand fashion label. The product is called merinomink, eco-possum, possumdown, eco fur or possum wool, and accounts for 95% of all commercially caught possum fur. Possum fur is also used for fur trim, jackets, bed throws, and possum leather gloves. All the fur is obtained from wild-caught possums, which are considered pests.
In 2009, it was announced that conservation measures (such as by the DOC) had met some significant success, and had reduced the possum numbers to less than half of the 1980s levels, a drop from around 70 million to around 30 million animals. Almost half (13.3 million hectares) of New Zealand's vegetated land is under some form of possum control, either for conservation reasons, or to reduce the spread of bovine tuberculosis.
Classification
About two-thirds of Australian marsupials belong to the
orderIn scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
DiprotodontiaDiprotodontia is a large order of about 120 marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, koala, wombats, and many others. Extinct diprotodonts include the rhinoceros-sized Diprotodon, and Thylacoleo, the so-called "marsupial lion"....
, which is split into three suborders: the
VombatiformesVombatiformes is one of the three suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia. Five of the seven known families within this suborder are extinct; only the families Phascolarctidae, with the Koala, and Vombatidae, with three extant species of wombat, survive.Among the extinct families are...
(
wombatWombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately in length with a short, stubby tail. They are adaptable in their habitat tolerances, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as...
s and the
koalaThe koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
, 4 species in total); the large and diverse Phalangeriformes (the possums and gliders) and
MacropodiformesMacropodiformes is one of the three suborders of the large marsupial order Diprotodontia. Kangaroos, wallabies and allies, bettongs, potaroos and rat kangaroos are all members of this suborder.- Classification :...
(
kangarooA kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s,
potorooThe Potoroo is a kangaroo/rat like animal about the size of a rabbit. All three extant species are threatened, especially The long-footed Potoroo and Gilbert's potoroo...
s,
wallabiesA wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
and the
musky rat-kangarooThe Musky Rat-kangaroo is a marsupial species found in the rainforests of northeast Australia. Although some scientists place this species as a subfamily of the family Potoroidae, the most recent classification places it in the family Hypsiprymnodontidae with prehistoric rat-kangaroos.It is the...
). Note: this classification is based on Ruedas & Morales 2005.
- Suborder Phalangeriformes: possums, gliders and allies
- Superfamily Phalangeroidea
- Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
- Genus Burramys
Burramys is a genus of the family Burramyidae, and is represented by one living and 3 extinct species. It is one of two genera of pygmy possum, the other being Cercartetus.-Taxonomy:*Genus Burramys**†Burramys wakefieldi...
- Mountain Pygmy Possum
The Mountain Pygmy Possum is a small, mouse-sized nocturnal marsupial of Australia found in dense alpine rock screes and boulder fields, mainly southern Victoria and around Mount Kosciuszko in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales at elevations from 1300 to 2230 m...
, Burramys parvus
- Genus Cercartetus
The genus Cercartetus is a group of very small possums known as pygmy possums. Four species comprise this genus, which together with the genus Burramys make up the marsupial family Burramyidae....
- Long-tailed Pygmy Possum
The Long-tailed Pygmy Possum is a diprotodont marsupial found in the rainforests of northern Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea...
, Cercartetus caudatus
- Southwestern Pygmy Possum
The southwestern pygmy possum , commonly known as the western pygmy possum or the mundarda, is a small marsupial found in Australia...
, Cercartetus concinnus
- Tasmanian Pygmy Possum
The Tasmanian pygmy possum , also known as the little pygmy possum, is the world's smallest possum. It was first described by Oldfield Thomas in 1888, after he identified that a museum specimen labelled as an eastern pygmy possum in fact represented a species then unknown to science...
, Cercartetus lepidus
- Eastern Pygmy Possum
The Eastern Pygmy Possum is a diprotodont marsupial of south-eastern Australia. Occurring from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia and also Tasmania, it is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath.This species is very small, weighing...
, Cercartetus nanus
- Family Phalangeridae
Phalangeridae is a family of nocturnal marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, including the cuscuses, brushtail possums, and their close relatives...
: brushtail possums and cuscuses
- Subfamily Ailuropinae
- Genus Ailurops
- Talaud Bear Cuscus
The Talaud Bear Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is endemic to Salibabu Island in the Talaud Islands, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-References:...
, Ailurops melanotis
- Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
The Sulawesi Bear Cuscus or Sulawesi Bear Phalanger is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
, Ailurops ursinus
- Genus Strigocuscus
Strigocuscus is a marsupial genus in the family Phalangeridae. It contains the following species:* Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus * Peleng Cuscus...
- Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus
The Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia....
, Strigocuscus celebensis
- Banggai Cuscus
The Banggai Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.It is a species of cuscus, a type of possum. It is found in the Peleng and Sula Islands of Indonesia....
, Strigocuscus pelegensis
- Subfamily Phalangerinae
- Tribe Phalangerini
- Genus Phalanger
Phalanger, from the Greek Phalangion, meaning spider's web, from their webbed toes is a genus of possum. They are marsupials of the family Phalangeridae...
- Gebe Cuscus
The Gebe Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to the island of Gebe Umera, North Maluku province, Indonesia, where it lives at elevations from sea level to 300 m....
, Phalanger alexandrae
- Mountain Cuscus
The Mountain Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Phalanger carmelitae
- Ground Cuscus
The Ground Cuscus is a marsupial from the order Diprotodontia and belongs within the family Phalangeridae, a diverse family consisting of the other cuscus species and the brushtail possums and the Scaly-tailed Possum .Body weight of the Ground Cuscus averages 2.5 – 3kg...
, Phalanger gymnotis
- Eastern Common Cuscus
The Eastern Common Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is found in eastern Papua New Guinea. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with P. mimicus, and before that also with P. orientalis....
, Phalanger intercastellanus
- Woodlark Cuscus
The Woodlark Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea, specifically on Madau and Woodlark Island....
, Phalanger lullulae
- Blue-eyed Cuscus
The Blue-eyed Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to the two small islands of Ternate and Tidore, west of the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, Indonesia....
, Phalanger matabiru
- Telefomin Cuscus
The Telefomin Cuscus is a possum found on New Guinea.It is named after the Telefol ethnic group, who knew the animal long before it was discovered scientifically by the Australian zoologist Tim Flannery. It lives in the oak forests along the Nong River in the middle of Papua New Guinea, at...
, Phalanger matanim
- Southern Common Cuscus
The Southern Common Cuscus is also known as Australian Cuscus, Grey Cuscus, Grey Phalanger, and To-ili. An arboreal marsupial, it is endemic to Australia , southern New Guinea and possibly the Aru Islands. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with P. intercastellanus, and before that also...
, Phalanger mimicus
- Northern Common Cuscus
The Northern Common Cuscus , also known as the Grey Cuscus, is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is native to northern New Guinea and adjacent smaller islands, but is now also found in the Bismarck Archipelago, south-east and central Moluccas, the Solomons and Timor, where it...
, Phalanger orientalis
- Ornate Cuscus
The Ornate Cuscus or Molluccan Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found on the North Maluku islands of Halmahera, Bacan and Morotai, at elevations from sea level to 1000 m....
, Phalanger ornatus
- Rothschild's Cuscus
Rothschild's Cuscus , also called the Obi Island Cuscus, is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to the islands of Obi, Bisa and Obilatu in the Obi Islands of Maluku province, Indonesia....
, Phalanger rothschildi
- Silky Cuscus
The Silky Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Phalanger sericeus
- Stein's Cuscus
Stein's Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Phalanger vestitus
- Genus Spilocuscus
Spilocuscus is a genus of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae.It contains the following species:*Admiralty Island Cuscus, Spilocuscus kraemeri*Common Spotted Cuscus, Spilocuscus maculatus*Waigeou Cuscus, Spilocuscus papuensis...
- Admiralty Island Cuscus
The Admiralty Island Cuscus or Manus Island Spotted Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is endemic to the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea. It is the smallest member of the genus Spilocuscus, and the female has a black back, while the male has blackish spots on a...
, Spilocuscus kraemeri
- Common Spotted Cuscus
The Common Spotted Cuscus is a cuscus, a marsupial that lives in the Cape York region of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby smaller islands.- Description :...
, Spilocuscus maculatus
- Waigeou Cuscus
The Waigeou Cuscus or Waigeou Spotted Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is endemic to the island of Waigeo in Indonesia, and consequently the spelling Waigeo Cuscus is often used instead of Waigeou Cuscus. Unlike all other members of the genus Spilocuscus, both...
, Spilocuscus papuensis
- Black-spotted Cuscus
The Black-spotted Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is among the largest members of the family, only being surpassed by the bear cuscus. It is a relatively colourful species with whitish or yellowish underparts, rich rufous crown and limbs, and a black saddle or...
, Spilocuscus rufoniger
- Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus
The Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus or Biak Spotted Cuscus is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is endemic to the islands of Biak and Supiori in the Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua of Indonesia...
, Spilocuscus wilsoni
- Tribe Trichosurini
- Genus Trichosurus
- Northern Brushtail Possum
The Northern Brushtail Possum is a nocturnal marsupial inhabiting northern Australia. It is closely related to the Short-eared Possum, Mountain Brushtail Possum, Coppery Brushtail Possum, and the Common Brushtail Possum, the other four species of its genus.- Appearance :Its fur is a grey in...
, Trichosurus arnhemensis
- Short-eared Possum
The Short-eared Possum is a species of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family. It is endemic to Australia.Found north of Sydney the species was once classed as a Mountain Brushtail Possum for which is its closest relative....
, Trichosurus caninus
- Mountain Brushtail Possum
The Mountain Brushtail Possum, or Southern Bobuck , is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae native to southeastern Australia...
, Trichosurus cunninghami
- Coppery Brushtail Possum
The Coppery Brushtail Possum is a species of marsupial possum in the family Phalangeridae. Coppery Brushtails are found within the Atherton Tablelands area of Queensland, in northeastern Australia. These mammals inhabit rainforest ecosystems, living within the tree canopy. Though they have a...
, Trichosurus johnstonii
- Common Brushtail Possum
The Common Brushtail Possum is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the largest of the possums.Like most possums, the Common Brushtail is nocturnal...
, Trichosurus vulpecula
- Genus Wyulda
- Scaly-tailed Possum
The Scaly-tailed Possum or the Ilangnalya is found in northwestern Australia. It is restricted to the Kimberley region in Western Australia...
, Wyulda squamicaudata
- Superfamily Petauroidea
Petauroidea is a superfamily of marsupials from Australia and New Guinea. It is part of the suborder Phalangeriformes within the order Diprotodontia, which also includes, among others, wombats, kangaroos, cuscuses...
- Family Pseudocheiridae
Pseudocheiridae is a family of arboreal marsupials containing 17 extant species of ringtailed possums and close relatives. They are found in forested areas and shrublands throughout Australia and New Guinea.-Characteristics:...
- Subfamily Hemibelideinae
- Genus Hemibelideus
- Lemur-like Ringtail Possum
The Lemur-like Ringtail Possum , also known as the Lemuroid Ringtail Possum or the Brushy-Tailed Ringtail, is one of the most singular members of the ringtail possum group...
, Hemibelideus lemuroides
- Genus Petauroides
- Greater Glider
The Greater Glider is a small gliding marsupial found in Australia. It is not closely related to the Petaurus group of gliding marsupials but instead to the Lemur-like Ringtail Possum , with which it shares the subfamily Hemibelideinae.The Greater Glider is nocturnal and is a solitary herbivore...
, Petauroides volans
- Subfamily Pseudocheirinae
- Genus Petropseudes
- Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum
The Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum , also known as the Rock Ringtail Possum, is a species of Australian possum. It is found in rocky escarpments in the Kimberley, Arnhem Land and Gulf of Carpentaria across Western Australia and Northern Territory and just passing the Queensland border. It is also...
, Petropseudes dahli
- Genus Pseudocheirus
Pseudocheirus is a genus of ringtail possums . It includes a single living species, the Common Ringtail Possum of Australia, as well as the fossil Pseudocheirus marshalli from the Pliocene of Victoria.Other species have previously been included in this genus...
- Common Ringtail Possum
The common ringtail possum is an Australian marsupial. It lives in a variety of habitats and eats a variety of leaves of both native and introduced plants, as well as flowers and fruits. These dietary factors have, over time, aided burgeoning introduced populations in New Zealand...
, Pseudocheirus peregrinus
- Genus Pseudochirulus
Pseudochirulus is a genus of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia.It contains the following species:*Lowland Ringtail Possum, Pseudochirulus canescens...
- Lowland Ringtail Possum
The Lowland Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Pseudochirulus canescens
- Weyland Ringtail Possum
The Weyland Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is endemic to the western Central Cordillera of Papua Province, Indonesia....
, Pseudochirulus caroli
- Cinereus Ringtail Possum
The Cinereus Ringtail Possum , also known as the Daintree River Ringtail Possum, is a species of possum found in northeastern Queensland, Australia. It was long believed to be the same as the Herbert River Ringtail Possum , but has recently been separated...
, Pseudochirulus cinereus
- Painted Ringtail Possum
The Painted Ringtail Possum or Moss-forest Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Pseudochirulus forbesi
- Herbert River Ringtail Possum
The Herbert River Ringtail Possum is a species of possum found in northeastern Queensland, Australia. It a dark brown to black species, sometimes with a white belly....
, Pseudochirulus herbertensis
- Masked Ringtail Possum
The Masked Ringtail Possum, Pseudochirulus larvatus, is a marsupial possum of the family Pseudocheiridae. It is found in northeastern New Guinea in the Star Mountains. the eastern Central Cordillera, the Huon Peninsula and the northern coast ranges. Masked Ringtails are arboreal residents of...
, Pseudochirulus larvatus
- Pygmy Ringtail Possum
The Pygmy Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-External links:*...
, Pseudochirulus mayeri
- Vogelkop Ringtail Possum
The Vogelkop Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is endemic to the Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Pseudochirulus schlegeli
- Subfamily Pseudochiropinae
- Genus Pseudochirops
Pseudochirops is a genus of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family.It contains the following species:*D'Albertis' Ringtail Possum, Pseudochirops albertisii*Green Ringtail Possum, Pseudochirops archeri...
- D'Albertis' Ringtail Possum
D'Albertis' Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
, Pseudochirops albertisii
- Green Ringtail Possum
The Green Ringtail Possum is a species of ringtail possum found only in northern Australia. This makes it unique in its genus, all other members of which are found in New Guinea or nearby islands...
, Pseudochirops archeri
- Plush-coated Ringtail Possum
The Plush-coated Ringtail Possum or Golden Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
, Pseudochirops corinnae
- Reclusive Ringtail Possum
The Reclusive Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is endemic to the Arfak Mountains in the Vogelkop Peninsula of West Papua, Indonesia....
, Pseudochirops coronatus
- Coppery Ringtail Possum
The Coppery Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Pseudochirops cupreus
- Family Petauridae
The family Petauridae includes 11 medium-sized possum species: four striped possums, the six species wrist-winged gliders in genus Petaurus, and Leadbeater's Possum which has only vestigal gliding membranes...
- Genus Dactylopsila
Dactylopsila is a genus of marsupial in the Petauridae family.It contains the following species:*Great-tailed Triok, Dactylopsila megalura*Long-fingered Triok, Dactylopsila palpator*Tate's Triok, Dactylopsila tatei...
- Great-tailed Triok
The Great-tailed Triok is a species of marsupial in the Petauridae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
, Dactylopsila megalura
- Long-fingered Triok
The Long-fingered Triok is a species of marsupial in the Petauridae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea....
, Dactylopsila palpator
- Tate's Triok
Tate's Triok, also known as the Fergusson Island Striped Possum , is a species of marsupial in the Petauridae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
, Dactylopsila tatei
- Striped Possum
The Striped Possum is a member of the Petauridae family, one of the marsupial families. The species is black with three white stripes running head to tail, and its head has white stripes that form a 'Y' shape...
, Dactylopsila trivirgata
- Genus Gymnobelideus
- Leadbeater's Possum
Leadbeater's Possum is an endangered possum restricted to small pockets of remaining old growth mountain ash forests in the central highlands of Victoria north-east of Melbourne...
, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
- Genus Petaurus
The genus Petaurus contains flying phalangers or wrist-winged gliders, a group of arboreal marsupials. There are six species, Sugar Glider, Squirrel Glider, Mahogany Glider, Northern Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider and Biak Glider, and are native to Australia or New Guinea.Flying phalangers are...
- Northern Glider
The Northern Glider is a species of marsupial in the Petauridae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is dry savanna....
, Petaurus abidi
- Yellow-bellied Glider
The Yellow-bellied Glider is an arboreal and nocturnal gliding possum that lives in a narrow range of native eucalypt forests down eastern Australia, reaching from northern Queensland to Victoria.-Habitat:...
, Petaurus australis
- Biak Glider
The Biak Glider is a species of marsupial in the Petauridae family. It is endemic to the Schouten Islands in West Papua of Indonesia....
, Petaurus biacensis
- Sugar Glider
The sugar glider is a small gliding possum originating from the marsupial family.The sugar glider is native to eastern and northern mainland Australia and is also native to New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.- Habitat :Sugar gliders can be found all throughout the northern and eastern parts of...
, Petaurus breviceps
- Mahogany Glider
The mahogany glider is an endangered gliding possum native to a small region of coastal Queensland.-Appearance:A nocturnal arboreal marsupial, the mahogany glider closely resembles the sugar glider, the squirrel glider and the yellow-bellied glider., but is noticeably larger than any of its...
, Petaurus gracilis
- Squirrel Glider
The Squirrel Glider is a nocturnal gliding possum, one of the wrist-winged gliders of the genus Petaurus.-Habitat:...
, Petaurus norfolcensis
- Family Tarsipedidae
- Genus Tarsipes
- Honey Possum
The honey possum or tait, its Native Australian name or noolbenger is a tiny Australian marsupial weighing just seven to eleven grams for the male, and eight to sixteen grams for the female—about half the weight of a mouse. Their physical size ranges from a body length of between 6.5 –...
or Noolbenger, Tarsipes rostratus
- Family Acrobatidae
Acrobatidae is a small family of gliding marsupials containing two genera, each with a single species, the Feathertail Glider from Australia and Feather-tailed Possum from New Guinea....
- Genus Acrobates
- Feathertail Glider
The Feathertail Glider , also known as the Pygmy Gliding Possum, Pygmy Glider, Pygmy Phalanger, Flying Phalanger and Flying Mouse, is the world's smallest gliding possum and is named for its long feather-shaped tail. Although only the size of a very small mouse , it can leap and glide up to 25 metres...
, Acrobates pygmaeus
- Genus Distoechurus
- Feather-tailed Possum
The Feather-tailed Possum is a species of marsupial in the Acrobatidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.It is the only species in the genus Distoechurus....
, Distoechurus pennatus