A morphometric study of the gastrointestinal tract of the common brushtail possum in southern New Zealand.

Abstract

The length and mass of sections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is reported for common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) captured in the Otago region of New Zealand (n = 41). The pH of digesta (n = 12) and of the mucosal surface was also determined for specific sections of the GI tract of fed (n = 5) and fasted (n = 5) animals. Inter-animal variability in some morphometric characteristics was influenced by gender, live body mass, fur colour and time spent in captivity. Feeding significantly reduced the pH of the mucosal surface in the caecum only. GI tract morphology of T. vulpecula from southern New Zealand differs from that reported for Australian specimens, with average mass of the caecum in individuals from Otago being less than that of Australian specimens. Such differences in GI tract morphology may be due to improved diet quality in New Zealand compared with Australia.