Diet of the Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) in central Australia.

Abstract

The diet of the Common Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, in central Australia was investigated by faecal analysis. Trichosaurus vulpecula ate 34 plant species from the herb, shrub and tree strata. Dicotyledonous species comprised 99 % of epidermis in faecal pellets. Preferred species were Amyema maidenii (a mistletoe), Acacia coriacea, A. estrophiolata, Rhagodia spinescens and Solanum centrale. Grass or eucalypts were rarely eaten. Plant reproductive parts (flowers, buds, seed and fruit) contributed 39 % of epidermis in faecal pellets. Many of the species eaten by T. vulpecula are also browsed by cattle, and this may have contributed to the decline of T. vulpecula in central Australia.