Coppery brushtail possum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coppery brushtail possum |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Trichosurus
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| Species: |
johnstonii
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The coppery brushtail possum (Trichosurus johnstonii) is a special type of possum. It belongs to a group of animals called marsupials. These amazing creatures live in the Atherton Tablelands area. This region is in Queensland, in northeastern Australia.
Coppery brushtail possums love living in rainforests. They spend most of their lives high up in the trees. Even though they only live in a small area, you can often find many of them there. Some scientists think this possum is a special kind of common brushtail possum.
What Do They Look Like?
Coppery brushtail possums are medium-sized animals. They usually grow to be about 40 to 49 centimeters (16 to 19 inches) long. They weigh between 1.2 to 1.8 kilograms (2.6 to 4 pounds). Male possums are usually a bit bigger and heavier than females. They get their name from their reddish-brown fur, which looks like copper!
Life in the Rainforest
Just like the common brushtail possum, coppery brushtails are nocturnal. This means they are most active at night. During the day, they sleep in cozy dens. These dens are often found inside hollow parts of trees.
At night, they don't just run around all the time. They spend about half their night resting. This helps them save energy. The other half of the night is spent looking for food.
What Do They Eat?
Coppery brushtail possums are mostly herbivores. This means they eat plants. They are very smart about what they choose to eat. Sometimes, plants have natural chemicals that can be harmful. These possums seem to pick a mix of plants. This mix helps their bodies deal with any tricky plant chemicals. It's like they have a special diet plan to stay healthy!
Who's in Charge?
In a group of coppery brushtail possums, there's a bit of a pecking order. Female possums tend to be more dominant than males. Also, bigger possums are usually more dominant than smaller ones. This helps them decide who gets the best sleeping spots or food.
