Trichosurus cunningham, Lindenmayer, Dubach & Viggers, 2002

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Phalangeridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 456-497 : 484

4.

Mountain Brush-tailed Possum

Trichosurus cunningham

French: Phalanger de Cunningham / German: Cunningham-Kusu / Spanish: Cuscus de cola de cepillo de montana

Other common names: Cunningham's Brush-tailed Possum, Southern Bobuck

Taxonomy. Trichosurus cunningham: Lindenmayer, Dubach & Viggers, 2002 ,

“ Tommy’s Bend Road (37°30’S, 145°49’E, 900 m above sea level),” Victoria, Australia.

This species was newly named, distinct from T. caninus in 2002. Morphological and genetic distinctions between T. caninus and T. cunninghami are real but modest, and the two may be better classified as distinct subspecies. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE Australia from S New South Wales (inland of Newcastle) to C & W Victoria (to vicinity of Mt. Cole), in the ranges and coastal plains.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 49-54 cm, tail 34-37 cm; weight 2.6-4.2 kg. The Mountain Brush-tailed Possum has a very similar overall appearance to the Short eared Brush-tailed Possum ( T. caninus ).

The Mountain Brush-tailed Possum has larger ears and hindfeet and a shorter tail than the Short-eared Brush-tailed Possum. Male and female Mountain Brush-tailed Possums are similar in size and appearance.

Habitat. Typically in tall wet sclerophyll forests and warm temperate and subtropical rainforests.

Food and Feeding. The diet of the Mountain Brush-tailed Possum in Victoria includes leaves ofsilver wattle ( Acacia dealbata , Fabaceae ) and fungi growing above and below the ground.

Breeding. Mountain Brush-tailed Possums have a distinct breeding season in April-May that lasts only 2-3 weeks, during which females give birth to a single young after gestation of 15-17 days. Although females are sexually mature at c.2 years of age, few young survive to weaning until mothers are c.3 years of age. Sometimes if a young is lost early in the season, the female can mate and produce a second young. At c.6 months of age, young leave the pouch and travel on their mothers’ back for a further 2-3 months and stay in their natal home range for 2-3 years before dispersing. The Mountain Brush-tailed Possum is a relatively long-lived species, with males being recorded living up to 15 years of age and females living up to 17 years of age. Powerful owls (Ninox strenua) and introduced predators including domestic cats (Felis catus), Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and Dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) are known predators.

Activity patterns. The Mountain Brush-tailed Possum is nocturnal and dens during the day in tree hollows. Nest boxes are also used, and all individuals have multiple dens. They frequently come to the ground or traverse along fallen logs.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Social organization of the Mountain Brush-tailed Possum appears to be flexible depending upon resources, with both polygyny and social monogamy being observed. Polygynous populations show males’ home ranges to overlap with 2-3 females and each male to mate with multiple females. In contrast, socially monogamous pairs share dens and have strongly overlapping home ranges with most young being fathered by the socially paired mate. Home ranges have been estimated at 0-7-6-9 ha, with densities of 0-01-23 ind/ha. Mountain Brush-tailed Possums communicate by scent marking and with a distinctive chattering call.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. Major conservation threats to the Mountain Brush-tailed Possum include clearing of land for agriculture and forestry in some parts of its distribution.

Bibliography. Lindenmayer, Cunningham et al. (1990), Lindenmayer, Dubach & Viggers (2002), Martin (2008), Martin et al. (2004), Menkhorst, Taggart et al. (2008), Seebeck et al. (1984), Viggers & Lindenmayer (2004), Woinarski et al. (2014a).

Figures

1. Common Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), 2. Coppery Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus johnstonii), 3. Short-eared Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus caninus), 4. Mountain Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus cunningham), 5. Scaly-tailed Possum (Wyulda squamicaudata), 6. Common Bear Cuscus (Aulurops ursinus), 7. Talaud Bear Cuscus (Aulurops melanotis), 8. Mountain Bear Cuscus (Aulurops furvus), 9. Small Sulawesi Cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis), 10. Small Sangihe Cuscus (Strigocuscus sangirensis)

Distribution. SE Australia from S New South Wales (inland of Newcastle) to C & W Victoria (to vicinity of Mt. Cole), in the ranges and coastal plains.