
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Eymann, J. 
A1  - Webley, L.S. 
A1  - Cooper, D. W. 
A1  - Herbert, C. A. 
T1  - Performance of passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) as a marking system for common brushtail possums <i>Trichosurus vulpecula</i> - a cautionary tale.
JF  - Australian Mammalogy
JO  - Aust. Mammalogy
Y1  - 2006
VL  - 28
IS  - 2
SP  - 209
EP  - 214
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AM06029 
N2  - Passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) have been used to mark many vertebrates and in this study 196 Trichosurus vulpecula were fitted with a Trovan ID-100 PIT tag when first captured for DNA studies using tissue samples from the ear pinnae. Not all individuals were recaptured but evidence based on a hole, scar or tear in the ear, presumably form previous tissue sampling, suggested 17 PIT tag failures. In 6 individuals a PIT tag was palpable under the skin at the place of insertion. In 3 animals the PIT tag malfunctioned after 5-16 months despite working on previous recaptures. Of the 17 suspected malfunctions, 13 could be verified as recaptured individuals through genotypic matching. The remaining 4 suspected failures could not be matched genotypically and were considered to be newly trapped. A back-up mehtod, such as tattooing or genetic tagging, should be considered. 
ER  -

