Editing Common brushtail possum (section)

{{Short description|Species of marsupial}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Common brushtail possum<ref name="msw3" />
| image = Trichosurus vulpecula 1.jpg
| image_caption = At [[Austins Ferry, Tasmania]]
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Morris, K. |author2=Woinarski, J. |author3=Friend, T. |author4=Foulkes, J. |author5=Kerle, A. |author6=Ellis, M. |date=2016 |title=''Trichosurus vulpecula'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T40585A21952080 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40585A21952080.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Trichosurus
| species = vulpecula
| authority = ([[Robert Kerr (writer)|Kerr]], 1792)<ref name="Linné1792" />
| range_map = Common Brushtail Possum area.png
| range_map_caption = Common brushtail possum native range
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = ''T. v. vulpecula'' (South-eastern common brushtail possum and central brushtail possum)<br/>
''T. v. arnhemensis''  ([[Northern brushtail possum]])<br/>
''T. v. eburacensis '' (Cape York brushtail possum)<br/>
''T. v. johnsoni'' ([[Coppery brushtail possum]])<br/>
''T. v. fuliginosus'' (Tasmanian brushtail possum)<br/>
''T. v. hypoleucus'' (South-western brushtail possum or Koomal)
}}

The '''common brushtail possum''' ('''''Trichosurus vulpecula''''', from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] for "furry tailed" and the [[Latin]] for "little fox", previously in the genus ''Phalangista''<ref name="hydroponicsearch" />) is a [[nocturnal]], semi[[arboreal]] [[marsupial]] of the family [[Phalangeridae]], native to [[Australia]] and [[Invasive species|invasive]] in [[New Zealand]], and the second-largest of the [[Phalangeriformes|possums]].

Like most possums, the common brushtail possum is nocturnal. It is mainly a [[folivore]], but has been known to eat small mammals such as rats. In most Australian habitats, [[eucalyptus]] leaves are a significant part of the diet, but rarely the sole item eaten. Its tail is [[Prehensile tail|prehensile]] and naked on its lower underside. The four colour variations are silver-grey, brown, black, and gold.<ref name="dpiw" />

It is the Australian [[marsupial]] most often seen by city dwellers, as it is one of few that thrive in cities and a wide range of natural and human-modified environments. Around human habitations, common brushtails are inventive and determined foragers with a liking for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and kitchen raids. Its once vast distribution has been greatly affected by drought, [[epizootic disease]] and intrusion of invasive mammals into its habitat.<ref name="Abbott-2012">{{cite journal|title=Original distribution of ''Trichosurus vulpecula'' (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) in Western Australia, with particular reference to occurrence outside the southwest|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia|author=I Abbott|date=2012|volume=95|pages=83–93}}</ref>

The common brushtail possum was introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s to establish a fur industry, but in the mild subtropical climate of New Zealand, and with few to no natural predators, it thrived to the extent that it became a [[Common brushtail possum in New Zealand|major agricultural and conservation pest]].