Short-eared Possum
Encyclopedia
The Short-eared Possum (Trichosurus caninus) is a species of marsupial
in the Phalangeridae
family. It is endemic to Australia
.
Found north of Sydney
the species was once classed as a Mountain Brushtail Possum
for which is its closest relative.
In the wild they can live up to 17 years of age, have a stable territory and invest a lot of energy rearing their young.
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
in the Phalangeridae
Phalangeridae
Phalangeridae is a family of nocturnal marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, including the cuscuses, brushtail possums, and their close relatives...
family. It is endemic to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Found north of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
the species was once classed as a Mountain Brushtail Possum
Mountain Brushtail Possum
The Mountain Brushtail Possum, or Southern Bobuck , is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae native to southeastern Australia...
for which is its closest relative.
In the wild they can live up to 17 years of age, have a stable territory and invest a lot of energy rearing their young.