Breeding of the brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr) in New South Wales

Abstract

Four samples were taken at four-monthly intervals from a population of possums in southern New South Wales, and two samples were taken from each of three other areas. The areas were chosen to represent different climatic regions. A total of 237 males and 286 females were examined. In all four populations births were most frequent in April, although some occurred in March, many in May, and some in June. A small proportion of females bred in spring. Young left the pouch permanently when about 140 days old but continued to suckle from outside the pouch. Most young had been weaned by December. Most females raised a young to independence each year but very few bred in both autumn and spring. Many females become mature at the end of their fist year but fewer males do so. Males and females are all mature at the end of their second year. Males remain continuously fertile throughout the year.