Pseudocheirus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pseudocheirus |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Pseudocheiridae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudocheirinae |
| Genus: | Pseudocheirus Ogilby, 1837 |
| Species | |
|
|
Pseudocheirus is a group of ringtail possums. It includes one living species, the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). This possum lives in Australia. There is also a fossil species called Pseudocheirus marshalli. This fossil was found in Pliocene rocks in Victoria.
Contents
About Pseudocheirus Possums
The Pseudocheirus group is part of the larger ringtail possum family. The most well-known member is the common ringtail possum. This animal is a marsupial, meaning it carries its young in a pouch. It is known for its long, gripping tail, which it uses to hold onto branches.
The Common Ringtail Possum
The common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) is a small, tree-dwelling animal. It is found in eastern Australia. These possums are usually grey with a white belly. They have a distinctive white tip on their tail. They are mostly active at night. They eat leaves, flowers, and fruits. They build nests called dreys in trees.
How Scientists Classify Possums
For a long time, many other types of ringtail possums were placed in the Pseudocheirus group. These included the lemur-like ringtail and the rock-haunting ringtail. Other groups like Pseudochirulus and Pseudochirops were also once part of Pseudocheirus. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, scientists studied them more closely. They found that these possums were different enough to be in their own groups.
Another fossil possum, Petauroides stirtoni, was first thought to be a Pseudocheirus. But now, scientists believe it is more closely related to the greater glider (Petauroides volans). This shows how scientific understanding can change over time.
Naming the Pseudocheirus Group
The name Pseudocheirus was first given by a scientist named William Ogilby in 1837. He was the first to officially describe this group of possums. Sometimes, the name was spelled slightly differently, like Pseudochirus. But Pseudocheirus is the correct and accepted spelling today.
Western Ringtail Possum
There is a special group of common ringtail possums living in Western Australia. These are called the western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus occidentalis). Some scientists think this western group might be a separate species. They might even be called Pseudocheirus occidentalis. However, more studies are needed to confirm this idea. Scientists need to be very sure before they change a species' name.
