Editing Common brushtail possum (section)

==Description==
[[File:Trichosurus vulpecula skeleton.jpg|thumb|Skeleton]]

The common brushtail possum has large and pointed ears. Its bushy tail (hence its name) is adapted to grasping branches, prehensile at the end with a hairless ventral patch.<ref name="Nowak1991" /><ref name="Cronin2008" /> Its fore feet have sharp claws and the first toe of each hind foot is clawless, but has a strong grasp.<ref name="Cronin2008" /> The possum grooms itself with the third and fourth toes which are fused together.<ref name="Cronin2008" /> It has a thick and woolly pelage that varies in colour depending on the subspecies. Colour patterns tend to be silver-grey, brown, black, red, or cream. The ventral areas are typically lighter and the tail is usually brown or black.<ref name="Nowak1991" /><ref name="Cronin2008" /> The muzzle is marked with dark patches.

The common brushtail possum has a head and body length of {{Convert|32-58|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name="Nowak1991" /> with a tail length of {{Convert|24-40|cm|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}.<ref name="Cronin2008" /> It weighs {{Convert|1.2-4.5|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cronin2008" /> Males are generally larger than females. In addition, the coat of the male tends to be reddish at the shoulders. As with most marsupials, the female brushtail possum has a forward-opening, well-developed pouch.<ref name="Nowak1991" /> The chest of both sexes has a scent gland that emits a reddish secretion which stains that fur around it. It marks its territory with these secretions.<ref name="Meyer2000" />

<gallery mode = packed heights = 180px>
Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Scottsdale 2.jpg|Dark brown
Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Scottsdale.jpg|Medium brown
Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) Scottsdale 4.jpg|Light brown
</gallery>