Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). This possum, with its several subspecies occurs Australia-wide with the exception of the central desert regions. It lives in eucalypt woodlands, rainforests and suburban backyards. It is also a common inhabitant of the ceilings of houses. An introduced population occurs in New Zealand. It grows to a head-body length of around 50 cms, and a weight of around 4-5 kilograms. Males are a little larger than females. A single young is born around 16 days after mating and spends a further 4-5 months in the mother's pouch and another 2 months riding on the mother's back before becoming fully independent. This possum feeds on leaves, flowers and fruits from a large variety of trees. Population numbers vary seasonally from region to region, but generally the species is very common. Stannary Hills, Queensland, tropical northern Australia.