Scientific Name: Pseudocheirus peregrinus

The Ring Tail Possum has short grey brown fur on it’s back with white fur underneath it’s body. When immature, the Ringtail Possum is a reddish brown colour. They weigh between 700g-1100g and are approximately 30-35cm in length. Their tail can be measured from 30-35cm long.

Did you know? The Ringtail Possum has two thumbs on each front foot, which gives them the ability to grip onto trees making them fantastic climbers.
The underside of the tail and the soles of their feet are hairless, which also helps them grip to the branches.

Habitat: The Ringtail Possum can be found in rainforests, shrubby woodlands, eucalypt forests, coastal shrub and suburban gardens. They are tree dwelling animals, and have adapted their behaviour to live in close association with humans and their gardens. The Ringtail Possum may build as many as five nests amongst dense undergrowth and will move readily from one to the other taking its young with it. The male and female will build the nest together, carrying grass, leaves and shredded bark curled up in their tails.

Diet: Ringtail Possums are primarily leaf eaters. They also eat a wide variety of flowers, fruits, nectar and shoots. With the increase in the number of urban areas, Ringtail possums have adapted to eating more exotic foods including rose buds and fruit from fruit trees.

Reproduction: Ringtail Possums live in family groups, which usually contain a male, one or two females and the young from a previous year. The young do not become adults until they are eighteen months old and leave the group to form their own families.

Behaviour: Ringtail Possum is a very social animal. It has a soft high-pitched twittering call. They are nocturnal animals and have very good night vision.