Sugar Glider
[Petaurus breviceps]

Description: Rat sized body with soft grey fur and black stripe along middle of head and body. Tail as thick as, or slightly thicker than a human thumb and usually with a white tip. Membrane-like skin webbing between wrist and ankle allows this possum to glide up to 90m from tree to tree.

Notes: Found in tall open eucalypt forest and in wetter or higher altitude forest or rainforest remnants. Can be seen in coastal northern, eastern and south eastern Australia including Tasmania. This marsupial is nocturnal and feeds on insects, nectar, saps and gums produced by wattles and eucalypts. Up to seven individuals may share a nest hollow, a useful way to conserve body heat during the cold weather.



Photo Source: This photo was taken by Lesley Smitheringale at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Info Sources: "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane" - A Queensland Museum and Wild Guide, "Wild Australia" - a Guide to the places, plants and animals by Graham, Robert and Allan Edgar



Common Brush-Tailed Possum
[Trichosurus vulpecular]

Description: A tree dwelling marsupial with a long tail that is often used for grasping branches. Body length is 50 cm and tail length is 38 cm. Cat sized, light grey colour with light grey paws and large pointed ears with a black tail bushy to tip.

Notes: Habitat is dry and wet forests but this possum also frequents towns, cities and backyards. It is the most commonly encountered marsupial in eastern Australia and they often nest in house roofs and can become pests. They are nocturnal and shelter by day in tree hollows in their natural habitat. Their diet consists of
Eucalypt leaf and other leaf species, grasses, herbs, flowers, fruits and insects.

Breeding: Usually only one young is born, although twins have been recorded. When the possum is born, it weighs no more than 0.2 grams and is covered in a thin pink skin. Apart from its forelimbs, it is quite undeveloped. It uses these well-developed front paws and claws to help grip onto the mother's fur and make its way to the pouch. Once safe inside, the jellybean-sized joey attaches itself to one of her mother's teats where she will grow and develop. They stay here in the pouch until they are around 120 days old and well furred.

Photo Source: "Motherly Love", Brush-tailed Possums by Lesley Smitheringale

Info Sources: "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane" - A Queensland Museum and Wild Guide, "Wild Australia" - a Guide to the places, plants and animals by Graham, Robert and Allan Edgar, Australia Zoo Website


Koala
[Phascolarctos cinereus]

Description: Woolly grey fur with white chest. Body length is 90cm and no tail. Males are larger and more "course-looking".

Notes: A tree dwelling marsupial found in dry open eucalypt forests but a clumsy tree climber. Spends most of its time sleeping or moving slowly. Both sexes are sometimes seen on the ground moving between food trees. Males bellow loudly during the mating season and the single youngster is carried in a pouch until it is six months old, when it starts riding on the mother's back.

Photo Source:Lesley Smitheringale, taken at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Info Sources: "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane" - A Queensland Museum and Wild Guide, "Wild Australia" - a Guide to the places, plants and animals by Graham, Robert and Allan Edgar














Name of Marsupial
[Latin Name]

Description: This is where you can add a description of the bird and perhaps how the male and female differ.

Notes: This is where you can add your own notes such as where you sighted the bird and anything else you want about the bird.

The text can be wrapped around your image, or you can have the text start below the photo. You can also move the photo to the right side of the page. See your choices for photo and text placement by clickin on the photo with your mouse and then clicking "image" on the toolbar.

You can also change the size of your photo by clicking on it once to highlight it, then by clicking the "plus" or "minus" sign in the "Edit Image" toolbox. When you're all done, save your page. [This text should be deleted]