Trichosurus johnstonii (Ramsay, 1888)

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 : 483

2.

Coppery Brush-tailed Possum

Trichosurus johnstonii

French: Phalanger de Johnstone / German: Queensland-Kusu / Spanish: Cuscus de cola de cepillo de Atherton

Other common names: Coppery Brushtail

Taxonomy. Phalangista johnstonii Ramsay, 1888 ,

“Bellenden-Ker [Ranges],” northeastern Queensland, Australia.

This species has often been included within T. vulpecula in the past, but recent morphological and molecular assessments suggest that it is a distinct species that lives alongside T. vulpecula in the Atherton Region, despite some gene flow. Nevertheless, further detailed research is needed to firmly demonstrate the taxonomic status of T. johnstonii . Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Australia, endemic to the Atherton Tableland region of NE Queensland, where it occurs along the W side of the Tableland, from Koombooloomba to Kuranda.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 35.5-43.8 cm, tail 33.2-42 cm; weight 1.2-2 kg. Pelage of the Coppery Brush-tailed Possum is warm, rich orange-brown or reddishbrown, differing from overall grayish color of the parapatric—sympatric Common Brush-tailed Possum ( T. vulpecula ). Tail of the Coppery Brush-tailed Possum is blackish and proportionally longer, ears smaller, and molars larger than in the Common Brush-tailed Possum. Male and female Coppery Brush-tailed Possums are the same size (especially skull comparisons), in contrast to the Common Brush-tailed Possum in which male-biased sexual size dimorphism is more pronounced.

Habitat. Predominantly along rainforest edge and adjacent tall open forest.

Food and Feeding. The diet of the Coppery Brush-tailed Possum includes leaves but also substantial proportions of non-leaf plant parts (32% of diet), especially green fruit of Solanum (Solanaceae) . At least 33 food plant species are eaten by the Coppery Brush-tailed Possum, and it feeds on various native and invasive species.

Breeding. One study showed that most young Coppery Brush-tailed Possums are born in June, and breeding is synchronous with sympatric populations of Common Brushtailed Possums.

Activity patterns. The Coppery Brush-tailed Possum is nocturnal and dens during the day in tree hollows. Snakes and birds of prey, such as owls, are important predators.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Density in one study of the Coppery Brush-tailed Possum was 3-4 ind/ha in preferred rainforest habitat.

Status and Conservation. The Coppery Brush-tailed Possum has not been evaluated on The IUCN Red List because earlier taxonomies (although not formally the IUCN) considerit a subspecies of the Common Spotted Cuscus. Although it has probably lost much of its historical distribution to deforestation, its population is probably stable at present. Additional research is needed to better establish the taxonomic status of the Coppery Brush-tailed Possum so that its conservation status and prioritization can be more rigorously assessed.

Bibliography. Flannery (1994a), Kerr (2011), Mitchell et al. (2014), Procter-Gray (1984), Ramsay (1888), Winter (1984).

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. NE Australia, endemic to the Atherton Tableland region of NE Queensland, where it occurs along the W side of the Tableland, from Koombooloomba to Kuranda.