Possum Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

For the Western Hemisphere marsupial, come across opossum.

Possums
Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Grade: Mammalia Infraclass: Marsupialia Order: Diprotodontia Suborder: Phalangeriformes Szalay in Archer, 1982
Superfamilies and Families
Phalangeroidea Burramyidae Phalangeridae Petauroidea Pseudocheiridae Petauridae Tarsipedidae Acrobatidae

Possum is the common name for whatever of the minor- to medium-sized arboreal marsupials comprising the mammalian suborder Phalangeriformes of the order Diprotodontia and native to Commonwealth of australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi (and introduced to New Zealand). Possums are characterized past nocturnal and omnivorous behaviors, a long tail, woolly fur, and syndactylous hind feet (united by skin at the top joint but divided at the claws). Some limit the proper noun possum to the members of the family Phalangeridae, a group that also includes mammals with the common proper noun of cuscus. In all, there are near 64 species in Phalangeriformes, spread over six families.

A like group of marsupial mammals belonging to the order Didelphimorphia, and found in the Western Hemisphere, are known by the common name of opossum. The term possum also is used in N America equally a diminutive for the Virginia opossum.

In their natural environs, possums provide important ecological values as part of food chains and in seed dispersal. Possums swallow such foods equally plant matter (leaves, fruit, flowers), insects, and bird eggs, and are consumed by such carnivores every bit owls, dingoes, pythons, and foxes. For humans, they also were an important part of the Aboriginal diet and used for Aboriginal article of clothing.

However, the introduction of the common brushtail possum to New Zealand, in an effort to institute a fur industry, has been an ecological disaster, every bit they have no natural predators. As an invasive species in New Zealand, their population numbers have exploded, causing damage to the native flora and fauna and serving as a carrier of bovine tuberculosis.

Overview and description

Phalangeriformes is 1 of 3 suborders within the order Diprotodontia. In addition to the possums, the club Diprotodontia includes the kangaroos, wallabies, koala, wombats, and many others. Extant diprotodonts are restricted to Australasia. There are two fundamental anatomical features that, in combination, identify diprotodontia. Members of the lodge are, first, diprotodont (meaning "two forepart teeth"): they have a pair of large, procumbent incisors on the lower jaw, a common feature of many early groups of mammals and mammaliforms. The diprotodont jaw is short, usually with three pairs of upper incisors and no lower canines. The second trait distinguishing diprotodonts is syndactyly, a fusing of the 2d and 3rd digits of the foot up to the base of the claws, which leaves the claws themselves separate.

The possums, the common name for members of Phalangeriformes, resemble in appearance the opossums of the Americas, and it is from these that their proper name is derived. (The name is from Algonquian wapathemwa, not Greek or Latin, so the plural is possums, non possa.) (Possum is too used in North America as a brusque form of opossum.) The Western Hemisphere opossums, of which there are more than than threescore species, are characterized by a long, naked tail; a long, pointed snout; opposable thumbs in the hands and anxiety; and ears that are naked (Grzimek et al. 2004).

Possums are small marsupials with brownish or gray fur, ranging in size and weight from the length of a finger or 170 grams (6 ounces) (pygmy possums and wrist-winged gliders), to the length of 120 centimeters (4 feet) or fourteen.5 kilograms (32 pounds) (brushtails and ringtails). In general, though, the larger possums are virtually the same size as a well-fed domestic true cat. The two most common species of possums, the common brushtail and common ringtail, are also among the largest. The possum's rank odor is due to its large musk glands located behind each ear.

All possums are nocturnal and omnivorous, hiding in a nest in a hollow tree during the day and coming out during the nighttime to fodder for nutrient. They fill much the same role in the Australian ecosystem that squirrels fill up in the northern hemisphere and are broadly similar in appearance.

The Phalangeriformes suborder is divided into two superfamilies, Petauroidea (ringtail possums and gliders) and Phalangeroidea (brushtail possums, cuscuses, and pygmy possums). There are four families in the Petauroidea superfamily: Acrobatidae (feathertail gliders and pyrmy gliders), Petauridae (gliders, Leadbeater'south possum, and striped possum), Pseudocheiridae (ringtail possums), and Tarsipedidae (honey possum). There are two families in the Phalangeroidea superfamily: Burramyidae (pygmy possums) and Phalangeridae (brushtail possums and cuscuses) (Myers et al. 2008).

Cuscus is the common name generally given to the species within four genera of Phalangeridae: Ailurops, Phalanger, Spilocuscus, and Strigocuscus.

Interaction with humans

The possum has been a part of Australian culture and folklore since the original indigenous inhabitants of the land. Australian Aborigines once used possum hides while playing the traditional game of Marn Grook. Possum-skin cloaks were important habiliment for Aborigines from the south-e, besides as being important clan heirlooms.

Possums are commonly found in suburban areas, where they are often considered pests owing to their habit of eating fruit, vegetables, flowers and tender immature shoots from gardens, and nesting in roofs. The loud hissing, crackling territorial call of the male common brushtail may likewise be a problem for suburban residents. Natural deterrents that play upon the possum's acute sense of aroma are ofttimes employed to discourage them. These include cloves of garlic, camphor, or naphthalene.

As a native species in Commonwealth of australia, possums are protected by Australian regulations, even when they reside in urban neighborhoods, and cannot be baited. They cannot be killed equally pests, to the irritation of many homeowners, and if captured, the regulations stipulate that they must be released within a pocket-sized radius of that locality, since they are territorial creatures. Preventative measures such every bit blocking off their access to the roof spaces or building a possum nesting box for an alternative home are instead recommended.

Although the common brushtail and (to a lesser extent) ringtail possums accept adapted well to the urban surroundings, many of the lesser-known species are reduced in number, threatened, or endangered.

Introduction into New Zealand

The common brushtail possum was introduced to New Zealand by European settlers in an try to establish a fur industry.

They soon escaped into the wild where they take thrived equally an invasive species with nifty numbers: effectually 60 1000000 individuals are estimated to live in New Zealand. At that place are no native predators of the possum in New Zealand. In that location have been numerous attempts to eradicate them considering of the damage they do to native trees and wildlife, as well as acting equally a carrier of bovine tuberculosis. For New Zealand, the introduction of possums has resulted in every bit much of an ecological disaster equally the introduction of rabbits has been in Commonwealth of australia.

Classification

About ii-thirds of Australian marsupials belong to the club Diprotodontia, which is split up into three suborders: the Vombatiformes (wombats and the koala, four species in total); the large and diverse Phalangeriformes (the possums), and Macropodiformes (kangaroos, potoroos, wallabies, and the musky rat-kangaroo).

• Suborder PHALANGERIFORMES: possums, gliders, and allies
  • Superfamily Phalangeroidea
    • Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
      • Genus Burramys
        • Mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus
      • Genus Cercartetus
        • Long-tailed pygmy possum, Cercartetus caudatus
        • Southwestern pygmy possum, Cercartetus concinnus
        • Tasmanian pygmy possum, Cercartetus lepidus
        • Eastern pygmy possum, Cercartetus nanus
    • Family Phalangeridae: brushtail possums and cuscuses
      • Subfamily Ailuropinae
        • Genus Ailurops
          • Talaud comport cuscus, Ailurops melanotis
          • Sulawesi bear cuscus, Ailurops ursinus
      • Subfamily Phalangerinae
        • Tribe Phalangerini
          • Genus Phalanger
            • Gebe cuscus, Phalanger alexandrae
            • Mount cuscus, Phalanger carmelitae
            • Ground cuscus, Phalanger gymnotis
            • Eastern mutual cuscus, Phalanger intercastellanus
            • Woodlark cuscus, Phalanger lullulae
            • Blue-eyed cuscus, Phalanger matabiru
            • Telefomin cuscus, Phalanger matanim
            • Southern common cuscus, Phalanger mimicus
            • Northern common cuscus, Phalanger orientalis
            • Ornate cuscus, Phalanger ornatus
            • Rothschild's cuscus, Phalanger rothschildi
            • Silky cuscus, Phalanger sericeus
            • Stein's cuscus, Phalanger vestitus
          • Genus Spilocuscus
            • Admiralty Island cuscus, Spilocuscus kraemeri
            • Common spotted cuscus, Spilocuscus maculatus
            • Waigeou cuscus, Spilocuscus papuensis
            • Blackness-spotted cuscus, Spilocuscus rufoniger
            • Blue-eyed spotted cuscus, Spilocuscus wilsoni
        • Tribe Trichosurini
          • Genus Strigocuscus
            • Sulawesi dwarf cuscus, Strigocuscus celebensis
            • Banggai cuscus, Strigocuscus pelegensis
          • Genus Trichosurus
            • Northern brushtail possum, Trichosurus arnhemensis
            • Brusque-eared possum, Trichosurus caninus
            • Mount brushtail possum, Trichosurus cunninghami
            • Coppery brushtail possum, Trichosurus johnstonii
            • Common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula
          • Genus Wyulda
            • Scaly-tailed possum, Wyulda squamicaudata
  • Superfamily Petauroidea
    • Family Pseudocheiridae
      • Subfamily Hemibelideinae
        • Genus Hemibelideus
          • Lemur-like ringtail possum, Hemibelideus lemuroides
        • Genus Petauroides
          • Greater glider, Petauroides volans
      • Subfamily Pseudocheirinae
        • Genus Petropseudes
          • Rock-haunting ringtail possum, Petropseudes dahli
        • Genus Pseudocheirus
          • Common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus
        • Genus Pseudochirulus
          • Lowland ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus canescens
          • Weyland ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus caroli
          • Cinereus ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus cinereus
          • Painted ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus forbesi
          • Herbert river ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus herbertensis
          • Masked ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus larvatus
          • Pygmy ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus mayeri
          • Vogelkop ringtail possum, Pseudochirulus schlegeli
      • Subfamily Pseudochiropinae
        • Genus Pseudochirops
          • D'Albertis' ringtail possum, Pseudochirops albertisii
          • Green ringtail possum, Pseudochirops archeri
          • Costly-coated ringtail possum, Pseudochirops corinnae
          • Reclusive ringtail possum, Pseudochirops coronatus
          • Coppery ringtail possum, Pseudochirops cupreus
    • Family Petauridae
      • Genus Dactylopsila
        • Bully-tailed triok, Dactylopsila megalura
        • Long-fingered triok, Dactylopsila palpator
        • Tate's triok, Dactylopsila tatei
        • Striped possum, Dactylopsila trivirgata
      • Genus Gymnobelideus
        • Leadbeater'southward possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
      • Genus Petaurus
        • Northern glider, Petaurus abidi
        • Yellow-bellied glider, Petaurus australis
        • Biak glider, Petaurus biacensis
        • Carbohydrate glider, Petaurus breviceps
        • Mahogany glider, Petaurus gracilis
        • Squirrel glider, Petaurus norfolcensis
    • Family Tarsipedidae
      • Genus Tarsipes
        • Honey possum or Noolbenger, Tarsipes rostratus
    • Family Acrobatidae
      • Genus Acrobates
        • Feathertail glider Acrobates pygmaeus
      • Genus Distoechurus
        • Feather-tailed possum Distoechurus pennatus

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Groves, C. 2005a. Superfamily Phalangeroidea. Pages 44-49 in D. E. Wilson, and D. M.Reeder, eds., Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins Academy Printing. ISBN 0801882214.

• Groves, C. 2005b. Superfamily Petauroidea. Pages 50-56 in D. E. Wilson, and D. M.Reeder, eds., Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins University Printing. ISBN 0801882214.

• Grzimek, B., D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade. 2004. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale, ISBN 0307394913.

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2006. Phalangeriformes Szalay in Archer (ed.), 1982 ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.: 709306. Retrieved Baronial 29, 2008.

• Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. Due south. Parr, T. Jones, M. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2008. Suborder Phalangeriformes (possums and cuscuses). Animal Multifariousness Web (online). Retrieved August 29, 2008.

• Myers, P. 2002. Phalangeridae. Brute Diversity Web. Retrieved August 29, 2008.

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