Common brushtail possum
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Common brushtail possums wrap their tails around branches to support themselves.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Common brushtail possum
- Scientific name
- Trichosurus vulpecula
- Japanese name
- フクロギツネ
- Group
- Land mammals
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Diprotodontia
- Family
- Phalangeridae
- Genus
- Trichosurus
Where the name “Common brushtail possum” comes from
Its long bushy tail is said to be the source of the fox part of its Japanese name.
多摩動物公園It has large eyes and tall, rounded ears, and its tail is usually long and covered in bushy fur.
It lives everywhere from forests to towns and villages, and sometimes even settles in the attics of houses.
How the Common brushtail possum lives
They are active at night and rest in tree hollows or similar shelters by day. They eat leaves, shoots and flowers. Usually solitary, they mark territories with secretions including those from the chest.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebBasic data
- Size
- Head and body length: 45–62 cm
- Weight
- 2–3 kg
- Diet
- Leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, insects, and occasionally chicks and eggs
- Range
- Australia
Where the Common brushtail possum has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- フクロギツネ
- 简体中文
- 刷尾负鼠
- 繁體中文
- 帚尾袋貂
- 한국어
- 주머니여우
- Español
- Pósum de cola de cepillo
- Français
- Phalanger Blanchâtre
- Deutsch
- Fuchskusu
- Português (Brasil)
- Cusu-comum
- Italiano
- Tricosuro volpino
- العربية
- بوسوم كث الذيل
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Posum ekor-sikat biasa
- Русский
- Лисий кузу
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 多摩動物公園 — フクロギツネChecked: 2026-11-03
- University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web — Trichosurus vulpeculaChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Common brushtail possum, look for this
- Look for the hairless patch near the tip on the underside of the tail.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
多摩動物公園EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Common brushtail possum
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Diprotodontia
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