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Phalangeridae - brushtail possums, cuscuses

Brushtail PossumThere are 26 species of medium-sized marsupials in this family. They are found in Australia and New Guinea.

They have stocky bodies, small heads and front-facing eyes. Most species have long, furry prehensile tails. In most species, the first and second digits of the forefeet are opposable. They have thick fur that can range from gray to brown to black. Some species have spots or stripes.

They are good climbers, but they also spend time on the ground. They are omnivores and usually feed at night.

Species in this family include the mountain cuscus, the gray cuscus, the silky cuscus, the mountain cuscus, the northern brushtail possum, the silver-gray brushtail possum, and the scaly-tailed possum.

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in USThreatened in US Threatened in New HampshireThreatened in NH Endangered in USEndangered in US Endangered in NHEndangered in NH breeds in nhBreeds N.H. IntroducedIntroduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None
  None

Other Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH

Talaud Bear Cuscus - Ailurops melanotis Endangered Asia
Bear Cuscus - Ailurops ursinus Vulnerable Asia
Gebe Cuscus - Phalanger alexandrae Endangered Asia
Mountain Cuscus - Phalanger carmelitae Least Concern Asia Australia
Ground Cuscus - Phalanger gymnotis Least Concern Australia Asia
Eastern Common Cuscus - Phalanger intercastellanus Least Concern Australia
Woodlark Cuscus - Phalanger lullulae Endangered Australia
Blue-eyed Cuscus - Phalanger matabiru Vulnerable Asia
Telefomin Cuscus - Phalanger matanim Critically Endangered Australia
Southern Common Cuscus - Phalanger mimicus Least Concern Australia Asia
Northern Common Cuscus - Phalanger orientalis Least Concern Asia Australia
Ornate Cuscus - Phalanger ornatus Least Concern Asia
Obi Cuscus - Phalanger rothschildi Least Concern Asia

  Silky Cuscus - Phalanger sericeus Least Concern Asia Australia
Stein's Cuscus - Phalanger vestitus Least Concern Asia Australia
Admiralty Cuscus - Spilocuscus kraemeri Near Threatened Australia
Common Spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus maculatus Least Concern Asia Australia
Waigeo Cuscus - Spilocuscus papuensis Least Concern Asia
Black-spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus rufoniger Critically Endangered Asia Australia
Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus wilsoni Critically Endangered Asia
Small Sulawesi Cuscus - Strigocuscus celebensis Vulnerable Asia
Peleng Cuscus - Strigocuscus pelengensis Least Concern Asia
Short-eared Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus caninus Least Concern Australia
Mountain Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus cunninghami Least Concern Australia
Common Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula Least Concern Australia
Scaly-tailed Possum - Wyulda squamicaudata [dd] Australia

 

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Bear Cuscus - Ailurops ursinus profile Photos Video Vulnerable Asia
The bear cuscus is found in Indonesia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Bear Cuscus - Ailurops ursinus profile Photos Vulnerable Asia
The bear cuscus lives in the upper canopy of lowland tropical rainforests.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Black-spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus rufoniger profile Photos Critically Endangered Asia Australia
The black-spotted cuscus is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Black-spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus rufoniger profile Photos Critically Endangered Asia Australia
The male black-spotted cuscus is orange with a black back and rump. The female is orange with a black-spotted back and rump.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Common Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula profile Photos Video Least Concern Australia
The common brushtail possum is widely distributed throughout Australia and has been introduced to New Zealand.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Common Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The common brushtail possum rests in hollowed out logs or trees.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Common Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The common brushtail possum is is a solitary species.
Source: Australia Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Common Spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus maculatus Photos Least Concern Asia Australia
The common spotted cuscus is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Common Spotted Cuscus - Spilocuscus maculatus Photos Least Concern Asia Australia
The common spotted cuscus is also known as the short-tailed spotted cuscus.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Ground Cuscus - Phalanger gymnotis profile Photos Least Concern Australia Asia
The ground cuscus is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Ground Cuscus - Phalanger gymnotis profile Photos Least Concern Australia Asia
The ground cuscus is a solitary animal.
Source: Twycross Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Mountain Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus cunninghami profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The mountain brushtail possum eats leaves, fruits, berries, flowers, bark, fungi, and lichens.
Source: Australia Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Scaly-tailed Possum - Wyulda squamicaudata Photos Australia
The scaly-tailed possum is found in Western Australia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Small Sulawesi Cuscus - Strigocuscus celebensis profile Photos Vulnerable Asia
The small Sulawesi cuscus is found on Sulawesi, Sangihe, and Siau Islands in Indonesia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Small Sulawesi Cuscus - Strigocuscus celebensis profile Photos Vulnerable Asia
The small Sulawesi cuscus is also known as the little Celebes cuscus.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes