Ring-tailed Possum

Front teeth
Three pairs of upper incisors, one pair of lower incisors.

Head
Rounded head with slightly bulging eyes.

Ears
Short rounded ears with white patch behind.

Colouring
Variable grey to near-black back, sometimes tinged red-orange, white to red-orange below; red-orange legs.

Tail
Tapering prehensile tail with a white tip, naked underside, furred above. Carried in coil when not used.
300-350 mm.

Body size
300-350 mm.

Body weight
700-1100 g.

Preferred habitat
Almost exclusively tree-dwelling, in forests, woodlands, rainforests, dense scrub and suburban gardens. Nest in spherical nests (dreys) in tree hollows, undergrowth or tree forks. Mainly leaf-eaters but may eat flowers and fruits. Has adapted to living in urban environments, often foraging in gardens.

Habit
Nocturnal.

Status
Native marsupial.

Scientific name
Pseudocheirus peregrinus.