Ringtail possum

Description:

A tree dwelling marsupial about cat size. Grey to black and sometimes with brown they are common in the eastern parts of Australia. Usually nocturnal but occasionally seen in daylight hours. Distinctive tapered prehensile tail with white tip. Very timid.

Habitat:

Lives in eucalyptus trees with holes large enough to build a nest.

Notes:

This is the smaller of our two common possums and is one of the few creatures which can survive entirely on gum leaves although it eats other plants and particularly flowers including introduced species. It is also coprophagic somewhat like rabbits. Because it is smaller and lighter than the Brushtailed possum it can use parts of a tree inaccessible to the Brushies and possibly escape their wrath. Pic #2 shows it using it's tail to control its descent on a branch.