A Systematic Analysis of the Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus-Vulpecula (Kerr, 1792) (Marsupialia, Phalangeridae)

Abstract

The taxonomic status of distinctive populations of the widespread and morphologically variable possum Trichosurus vulpecula was examined. For the analysis, morphological characters (body size, fur colour and skull dimensions), karyotypes, electrophoretic allozyme, and ecological data were compared for as many Trichosurus populations as possible. There are insufficient differences between populations of T. vulpecula to reject a null hypothesis that they comprise a single species. Tasmanian, northern and south-western Australian populations could be retained as subspecies, but insufficient data exist to resolve the specific status of Atheton Tabeland and north-eastern Australian populations. One enigmatic result is that the skull morphometrics and allozymes of T. caninus were not distinguishable from those of sympatric T. vulpecula. However, other morphological characteristics and ecological data provide adequate evidence the T. caninus is a distinct species.