Northern brushtail possum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern brushtail possum |
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| Trichosurus arnhemensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Trichosurus
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| Species: |
arnhemensis
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The northern brushtail possum (Trichosurus arnhemensis) is a marsupial that lives in northern Australia. It is active at night, which means it is a nocturnal animal.
Sometimes, the northern brushtail possum is seen as its own unique species. However, it is often thought of as a type of common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis).
Contents
Life of the Northern Brushtail Possum
Possums are nocturnal animals. This means they are awake and look for food between sunset and sunrise. They like to have their own space and can live alone or in small family groups.
What Does It Look Like?
The northern brushtail possum has grey fur. Its belly is white, and its skin is pink. It can grow up to 55 centimetres (about 22 inches) long, not counting its tail. This makes it about the size of a small cat.
Unlike its relatives, and even though its name has "brushtail" in it, this possum does not have a very bushy tail.
Lifespan and Reproduction
Northern brushtail possums can have babies all year round. A baby possum stays in its mother's pouch for about 4 to 5 months. The mother carries the baby for about 17 to 18 days before it is born. These possums can live for up to 15 years.
Health Challenges
Many possums in the Northern Territory of Australia can get a serious skin disease. This illness can cause their faces to be badly affected, sometimes leading to blindness. This disease has spread widely among possums, including Ringtail possums.
Possums brought to animal rescue centers, like the RSPCA, with this disease are often put to sleep. This is done to prevent their suffering. When possums get sick, they sometimes become less afraid of humans and might come closer.
Possums and People
The northern brushtail possum can live well in both country and city areas. Sometimes, if there are too many of them, people might see them as a nuisance. Like other possums, they are usually quite calm around humans.
People might try to hand-feed them, but this is not a good idea. Their claws are very sharp and can cause scratches. These scratches could lead to infections or other health problems for humans.
Some Indigenous Australians traditionally eat this animal. For example, Kunwinjku elders in western Arnhem Land call this animal djabow. The Bininj Kunwok website spells it as djebuyh. According to Reverend P. Nganjmirra, an elder, it tastes "good." It is cooked in a hole, similar to how bandicoots are cooked.
What Do They Eat?
The northern brushtail possum eats many different parts of plants. This includes fruits, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Brushtail possums can eat leaves from trees that are poisonous to other animals. This is because they can handle many plant toxins.
They also eat insects like moths and grubs, as well as snails, birds' eggs, and baby birds. Many of their favorite foods can be found in people's gardens. This often brings the possums into residential yards.
See also
In Spanish: Trichosurus arnhemensis para niños
