Common Ringtail Possum

Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Diprotodontia · Pseudocheiridae

About

The common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus, Greek for "false hand" and Latin for "pilgrim" or "alien") is an Australian marsupial. The possum lives in a variety of habitats and eats a variety of leaves of both native and introduced plants, as well as flowers, fruits and sap. It also consumes caecotropes, which are material fermented in the caecum and expelled during the daytime when it is resting in a nest.

Fun Fact

Common ringtail possums build spherical nests (dreys) from bark and leaves and are one of the few marsupials where fathers help raise the young — males share the nest and carry joeys on their backs.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Forests and gardens

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

6-8 years

Threats

Deforestation
Habitat Fragmentation

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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