Mountain brushtail possum
| Mountain brushtail possum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Phalangeridae |
| Genus: | Trichosurus |
| Species: | T. cunninghami |
| Binomial name | |
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Trichosurus cunninghami Lindenmayer, Dubach and Viggers, 2002 |
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| Mountain brushtail possum range | |
The mountain brushtail possum, or southern bobuck (Trichosurus cunninghami), is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae native to southeastern Australia. It was not described as a separate species until 2002.
In 2002, based upon morphometric differences, it was proposed that the mountain brushtail possum, Trichosurus caninus, be reclassified into two distinct species. The northern form was to retain the binomial name T. caninus but was henceforth to be known as the short-eared possum. The southern population, prevalent in the Victorian Alps was to retain its already designated common name mountain brushtail possum but assigned a new binomial, T. cunninghami. However, genetic divergence between T. caninus and the putative T. cunninghami may not support a case for the establishment of a new species.
In 2005 a colony of bobucks was discovered in swamp coastal habitat in south west Gippsland, Victoria. A follow up biodiversity survey uncovered a widespread yet previously unrecorded population of bobucks in coastal habitat and parts of inland Gippsland.
In view of these findings, the currently accepted name, "mountain" brushtail possum, is no longer accurately descriptive. One suggestion is to rename the northern group as the "northern bobuck" and the Victorian animals as "southern bobuck", T. cunninghami.
Both the mountain brushtail possum, T. cunninghami, and its cousin the short-eared possum, T. caninus, are generally reported to inhabit wet sclerophyll forest in south-eastern Australia along and to the south and east of the Great Dividing Range of eastern Australia from southern Victoria to south-eastern Queensland. They typically dwell at altitudes greater than 300 metres. Bobucks are medium-sized (2.5–4.5 kg),semi-arboreal, nocturnal marsupials.
Habitat and dietary requirements of both the mountain brushtail possum and the short-eared possum are reported to be more specialised than those of their close relative the common brushtail possum, T. vulpecula. As a result, the common brushtail possum has been able to colonise a greater variety of habitats than either of its bobuck relatives. For example, unlike common brushtails, bobucks are not known in urban areas and have been thought of as being obligately adapted to stable forest environments.
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