Mammals
Common Ringtail Possum
Pseudocheirus peregrinus · also called ringtail possum
Curled inside a spherical drey woven from leaves and bark, a pair of common ringtail possums rest together by day, a monogamous partnership that will share the work of raising young once night falls and it is time to forage for eucalyptus leaves.
Overview
The common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus, is a small, tree-dwelling marsupial native to forest and grassland habitat across eastern Australia and a separate population in the southwest of the continent. Its distinctive woven leaf nest, highly prehensile tail, and unusual habit of re-ingesting its own droppings to fully digest tough eucalyptus leaves make it one of the more behaviourally interesting and commonly encountered small marsupials found anywhere in Australia.
A possum built for eucalyptus
Eucalyptus leaves are notoriously tough and low in nutrients, and the common ringtail possum tackles the challenge by passing its food through twice, a practice that, alongside its neatly woven drey nest and stable pair bonds, makes it one of the more resourceful small marsupials in the Australian bush.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and locally common across suitable forest and grassland habitat throughout eastern and southwestern Australia.
Common Ringtail Possum: common questions
What is a drey and why does the common ringtail possum build one?
A drey is a distinctive spherical nest that this species weaves from leaves, bark strips, and grass, typically built in dense vegetation or a tree hollow, providing shelter and a safe place to raise young away from ground-based predators.
Why does the common ringtail possum eat its own droppings?
This species produces two types of droppings and re-ingests the softer type in a practice called caecotrophy, a strategy that allows it to pass tough, fibrous eucalyptus leaves through its digestive system twice and extract additional nutrients that would otherwise be lost.
Does the common ringtail possum mate for life?
Often, yes; this species commonly forms long-term monogamous pairs that share a den and help raise young together, a more stable pair bond than is typically seen in many other possum species, which tend to be more solitary outside of breeding.
Why is the common ringtail possum so often seen in gardens?
This species adapts well to suburban environments, frequently making use of garden trees, hedges, and even artificial nest boxes alongside native vegetation, making it one of the more commonly encountered native marsupials in Australian towns and cities.