What is a common ringtail possum?
The common ringtail possum is a small marsupial about the size of a cat. Marsupials are different to other mammals as they have a pouch. Like many Australian animals, the common ringtail possum is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night.
Common ringtail possums can be distinguished from other possums by the white patches behind their eyes and on their bellies, the orange-brown tinges on their tail and limbs, and long, thin tails which end with a white tip. The tail of common ringtail possums is often referred to as a fifth limb as it is prehensile, meaning that it can grasp objects such as nesting materials and tree branches.
The scientific name for the common ringtail possum is Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Pseudocheirus means 'false hand', and peregrinus means 'wanderer'. The Dharug name for ringtail possum is bugari.
Where do common ringtail possums live?
Common ringtail possums are arboreal, meaning they live in the treetops. They prefer areas of dense foliage (leaf cover) for protection.
In the daytime, common ringtail possums sleep in a spherical nest called a 'drey' made out of sticks and leaves. One drey may be shared by several possums.
What do common ringtail possums eat?
Common ringtail possums are folivores. This means they are a type of herbivore that mainly eats leaves. They are one of the three Australian mammals that can survive just by eating toxic eucalypt leaves. Common ringtail possums also eat flowers and fruit.
Common ringtail possums digest their food twice by eating their own faecal (poo) pellets. This allows them to maximise the amount of nutrients they get from their food, as eucalypt leaves themselves are fairly low in nutrients.
What role do common ringtail possums play in their ecosystem?
Just like many birds and insects, common ringtail possums help pollinate plants. As they feed on flowers, pollen gets trapped in their fur. As the possum moves around, it transfers this pollen to other flowers it makes contact with.
Common ringtail possums are an important food source for native tree-dwelling (arboreal) predators such as powerful owls.
What sounds do common ringtail possums make?
Unlike their noisy relative the common brushtail possum, common ringtail possums are much quieter. They communicate through soft twitters, squeaks and chirrups, which could be easily mistaken for bird sounds.
The tail of the common ringtail possum is often referred to as a fifth limb. This is because it is prehensile, meaning that it can grasp objects such as nesting materials. The prehensile tail is also used to help climb and jump between tree branches, fences and powerlines. The underside of the tail is hairless, allowing it to better grip onto surfaces.
Common ringtail possums have opposable thumbs on their hind feet and two opposable thumbs on their front feet, allowing them to grip and hold structures. Sharp claws and hairless pads help common ringtail possums climb trees, whilst a gap between their second and third fingers helps them to securely hold onto branches.
As nocturnal animals, common ringtail possums rely on their large protruding eyes which gives them wide-angled vision. Common ringtail possums also rely on their sensitive nose and large ears to locate food, predators, other possums, and their home range.
Common ringtail possums have relatively short lifespans, living for up to six years.
Adult possums breed between autumn and spring. Like all marsupials, common ringtail possums give birth to live young and rear them in their pouches.
What threats do common ringtail possums face and how can we help them?
Although they are adapted to urban areas, common ringtail possums are often killed by power lines, hit by cars, and killed by invasive mammals such as foxes, cats and dogs.
Being a responsible pet owner keeping your cats and dogs indoors at night helps protect ringtail possums from these predators.
You can also help provide safe shelter for common ringtail possums by building nest boxes in your backyard.
