Trichosurus is a genus of brushtail possums, family Phalangeridae, comprising five species, the northern brushtail possum, short-eared possum, mountain brushtail possum, coppery brushtail possum and common brushtail possum, native to Australia, including Tasmania, and some small nearby islands. The genus shows an unusual anatomical adaptation among marsupials, having relocated its hypaxial muscles from the epipubic region to the pelvis in a way that parallels placental mammals, giving it breathing mechanics closer to placental mammals than most other marsupials; brushtail possums are also more terrestrial than other possum groups.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Geographic DistributionNative to Australia, including Tasmania, and some small nearby islands 3 Defining CharacteristicsHave shifted the hypaxial muscles from the epipubic bone to the pelvis, giving breathing mechanics more like placental mammals than other marsupials 3 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceCoat color varies considerably across the species' range, from grey to red, with one subspecies showing black coloration 1 Classification
Living or Extinct In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Australia, found in there.
Sources
1. Trichosurus vulpecula - Animal Diversity Web
Physical Description section, coat color sentenceQuote, Physical Description section, coat color sentence
Throughout its range, there is considerable variation in the coat color
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ656173, descriptionView the Source 3. Trichosurus - Wikipedia
Lead sentence
The brushtail possums are the members of the genus Trichosurus in the Phalangeridae, a family of marsupials.
Lead sentence, genus name
The brushtail possums are the members of the genus Trichosurus in the Phalangeridae, a family of marsupials.
Species section, list introduction
The genus contains these species:
Distribution section
They are native to Australia (including Tasmania) and some small nearby islands.
Description section, muscle and breathing sentence
Unique among marsupials, they have shifted the hypaxial muscles from the epipubic to the pelvis, much like in placental mammals, meaning that their breathing cycle is more similar to the latter than to that of other non-eutherian mammals.
View the SourceWikidata: Trichosurus
Wikidata Q656173, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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