Science
Life Science

Zoology- Phalangeridae (brushtail possums, cuscuses)

Phalangeridae
There are 18 species of medium-sized marsupials in this family. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands. They have stocky bodies and small heads. Most species have long, furry prehensile tails. They are good climbers, but also spend time on the ground. They are omnivores and usually feed at night. Species in this family include the mountain cuscus, the gray cuscus, the silky cuscus, the mountain cuscus, the northern brushtail possum, the silver-gray brushtail possum, and the scaly-tailed possum.

cuscus
Key: profileArticle Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio
Vulnerable Vulnerable Endangered Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered extinct inthe wild Extinct in the Wild extinct Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist
 
Phalangeridae Genus  
button Ailurops (bear cuscus)
button Phalanger (gray cuscuses)
button Spilocuscus (spotted cuscuses)
 button Strigocuscus (ground cuscus, small Sulawesi cuscus)
button Trichosurus (brush-tailed possums)
button Wyulda (scaly-tailed possum)

Phalangeridae Resources 		 
button Lesson Plans
button Games/Interactives
button Video 		  

Websites

Family Phalangeridae profile Photos
Most of the species in this family have long, furry prehensile tails. They are good climbers, but also spend time on the ground.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Phalangeridae profile Photos
The marsupials in this family have stocky bodies and small heads.
Source: NHPTV Wildlife Journal Junior Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Ailurops (bear cuscus)

Bear Cuscus Vulnerable profile Photos
The bear cuscus is only found on Sulawesi and the Talaut Islands of Indonesia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Bear Cuscus Vulnerable Photos
The bear cuscus has grizzled brownish-gray fur, a long tail, small ears, and round eyes.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: N/A Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Phalanger (gray cuscuses)

Gray Cuscus profile
The gray cuscus lives in tropical rainforests and thick scrub in the South West Pacific.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Woodlark Cuscus Endangered profile
The woodlark cuscus is only found on Woodlark Island, in Papua New Guinea, and on the neighboring island of Alcester.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Spilocuscus (spotted cuscuses)

Black-spotted Cuscus Critically Endangered profile Photos
The black-spotted cuscus is found in northern New Guinea. It gets its name from the black spots it has on the back half of its body. It has reddish-brown spots its front half!
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Short-tailed Spotted Cuscus profile Photos
The short-tailed cuscus has golden brown fur and a white ruff around its neck. It is found in New Guinea and in Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Strigocuscus (ground cuscus, small Sulawesi cuscus)

Small Sulawesi Cuscus Vulnerable profile Photos
The small Sulawesi cuscus is also known as the short-tailed cuscus. It has golden brown fur and a white ruff around its neck. It is found in New Guinea and in Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Small Sulawesi Cuscus Vulnerable profile Photos
The small Sulawesi cuscus is nocturnal and live in trees.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Trichosurus (brush-tailed possums)

Northern Brushtail Possum profile
The northern brushtail possum can live in a variety of habitats, including residential areas, forests, and areas without trees that offer caves and burrows for shelter.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Mountain Brushtail Possum profile
The mountain brushtail possum lives in the forests of southeastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Silver-gray Brushtail Possum profile Photos
The silver-gray brush-tail is also known as the common brushtail possum. It has a bushy tail with a prehensile tip.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Silver-gray Brushtail Possum profile Photos
The silver-gray brush-tail can be found throughout most of Australia and Tasmania. It is also found in New Zealand, where it was introduced in 1840.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Wyulda (scaly-tailed possum)

Scaly-tailed Possum profile Photos
The scaly-tailed possum is only found in the Kimberly division in the north of Western Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Scaly-tailed Possum Photos
The scaly-tailed possum gets its name from its long, scaly tail.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes





Online Video

Images and Video from Arkive
Bear Cuscus
Small Sulawesi Cuscus
Silver-gray Brushtail Possum
Scaly-tailed Possum



lessons