Estimating body condition in the mountain brushtail possum, Trichosurus caninus

Abstract

Two methods of assessing body condition were examined for the mountain brushtail possum, Trichosurus caninus (Ogilby) at a single study site in central Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Condition indices were derived from measures of skeletal size and body mass, and body water composition was determined using isotopic dilution of tritiated water to give an estimate of total body water space. There were significant negative relationships between body water composition and the condition indices for body length, total length and pes length. Body water composition of T. caninus was significantly higher in spring than in winter, and those animals with higher body water composition had lower absolute neutrophil counts and higher urea values. The relative usefulness of the two methods used for estimating body condition in T. caninus is discussed.