Listen to the common brushtail possum
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the common brushtail possum
The common brushtail possum is a mammal in the family Phalangeridae (order Diprotodontia). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”.
What does the common brushtail possum sound like?
Mammals produce sound with their larynx, from deep roars and rumbles to squeaks, barks, howls and – in bats, whales and dolphins – ultrasonic clicks used for echolocation.
The recordings here are labelled as brushtail possum. Listen for differences in rhythm, pitch and repetition – the spectrum display makes it easy to see whether a sound is a pure whistle (a thin line), a harsh call (a broad band) or a trill (rapid repeated marks).
From Wikipedia
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, from the Greek for "furry tailed" and the Latin for "little fox", previously in the genus Phalangista) is a nocturnal, semiarboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand, and the second-largest of the Australasian possums.
Like most possums, the common brushtail possum is nocturnal. It is mainly a folivore, but has been known to eat small mammals such as rats. In most Australian habitats, eucalyptus leaves are a significant part of the diet, but rarely the sole item eaten. Its tail is prehensile and naked on its lower underside. The four colour variations are silver-grey, brown, black, and gold.
Frequently asked questions
What does a common brushtail possum sound like?
You can hear 1 recording of the common brushtail possum on this page, including its brushtail possum. Mammals produce sound with their larynx, from deep roars and rumbles to squeaks, barks, howls and – in bats, whales and dolphins – ultrasonic clicks used for echolocation.
Is the common brushtail possum endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the common brushtail possum as “least concern”.
What family does the common brushtail possum belong to?
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) belongs to the family Phalangeridae in the order Diprotodontia.
Sources & credits
- Brushtail Possum by Alhadis – CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q732477 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Common brushtail possum – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Andrew Mercer (www.baldwhiteguy.co.nz) – CC BY-SA 4.0