A live-trapping study of the brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr (Marsupialia)

Abstract

Marking and recapture of a wild population of Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr extended from September 1953 to October 1954. Thirty-three free-living possums and 18 pouch young were captured a total of 302 times. The status of each individual is discussed; most adults are residents and most immature animals are transients. The sex ratio is predominantly female in adults but male in pouch young.

There are two main breeding periods; young appear in the pouch during March–April and in September. In this short-term study of a small population no intermediate breeding was recorded. Autumn births are more general than spring births.

The term "individual range" is introduced as a variant of "home range" and trap-revealed individual ranges are measured.

Growth and development of the pouch young were studied in detail, and statistical expressions for age on snout-rump and tail lengths are given.