Trichosurus vulpecula

(Kerr, 1792)

Common Brush-tailed Possum

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Marsupialia
Superorder : Australidelphia
Order : Diprotodontia
Suborder : Phalangeriformes
Family : Phalangeridae
Subfamily : Trichosurinae
Genus : Trichosurus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Kerr, R. 1792. The Animal Kingdom, or Zoological System of the celebrated Sir Charles Linnaeus. Class I. Mammalia. A. Strahan, T. Cadell, and W. Creech, Edinburgh, 462 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664222

Original name as described

Didelphis vulpecula

Other common names

Common Brushtail · Silver-grey Possum

Type locality

"Botany Bay [= Sydney]," New South Wales, Australia.

Biogeographic realm

Australasia

Country distribution

Australia

Taxonomy notes

does not include T. johnstonii (although the taxonomy of this form is unresolved and unstable), but does include arnhemensis, although it may also be a distinct species (pending further studies)

Taxonomy notes citation

Kerle, J. A. and How, R. A. 2008. Common Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula. In: S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan (eds), The mammals of Australia. Third Edition, pp. 274-276. Reed New Holland, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. · Wilson D., Mittermeier R. 2015. Handbook of the mammals of the world. Vol. 5. Monotremes and Marsupials. CSIRO.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000402

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Phalangista rufescens

(Krefft, 1872)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

rufescens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AM PA.510, AM PA.511

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

821, col. 1

Authority publication

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser

Phalangista Cuvieri

(G. R. Waterhouse, 1841)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

cuvieri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1838.10.11.3

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/01dc50ad-ef80-4be1-a40b-1b4380b5c051

Authority page

268

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18064880

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista fuliginosa Var. grisea

(J. E. Gray, 1841)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

grisea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1841.1225

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/8b165fdd-d587-4eba-aabd-e8aeead19b65 https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/eeb34926-16b1-4e6d-86de-da64cd546a1e

Authority page

401

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista fuliginosa

(W. Ogilby, 1831)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

fuliginosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1855.12.24.212

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/24380bbf-e732-4f21-ab1f-955da4f1f06e

Authority page

135

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1214090

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:188) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Trichosurus vulpecula var. arnhemensis

R. Collett, 1897

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

arnhemensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1897.4.12.3, NHMO 136, NHMO 668, NHMO 669, NHMO 1076, NHMO 1077, NHMO 1078, NHMO 1079, NHMO 1080, NHMO 1083, NHMO 1089, NHMO 1091, NHMO 1096, NHMO 1098, NHMO 1100, NHMO 22079, NHMO 22080

Type kind

syntypes

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/1b42d7ea-c1d4-4590-8e0d-09ccb7ddde59

Authority page

328

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30987495

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:483) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Trichosurus vulpecula mesurus

O. Thomas, 1926

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

mesurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1908.8.8.114

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/396fb544-2189-4352-be7d-765262029727

Authority page

633

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Cookii

(G. Cuvier in É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire & F. Cuvier, 1824)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

cookii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notpublishedwithageneric_name

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

pl. 224 (p. 4)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53183110

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista Bougainvillei

(J. B. Fischer, 1830)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

bougainvillei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-MO-1990-416

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/zm/mo-1990-416

Authority page

583 [as 383]

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:188) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Trichosurus vulpecula eburacensis

Lönnberg, 1916

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

eburacensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

NHRM (number not known)

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

9

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41923082

Authority publication

Kunglika Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar

Name usages

  1. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)
  2. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:483) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Trichosurus vulpecula raui

H. H. Finlayson, 1963

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

raui

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SAMA M2518

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

18

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41034018

Authority publication

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Trichosurus vulpecula ruficollis

E. Schwarz, 1909

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

ruficollis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SMF:MAMM:2476

Type kind

lectotype

Authority page

626

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30144629

Authority publication

Zoologischer Anzeiger

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Balantia lemurina

(Illiger, 1815)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

lemurina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

102

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Illiger (1815:102, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)

Balantia vulpina

(Illiger, 1815)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

vulpina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

102

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Illiger (1815:102, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080958) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)

Trichosurus Cookii

Lesson, 1842

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

cookii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

189

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:189) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Trichosurus xanthopus

Lesson, 1842

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

xanthopus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

189

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:189) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Trichosurus arnhemensis

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

arnhemensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

14

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:14) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:38) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Trichosurus vulpecula

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

vulpecula

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

14

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:14) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:38) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)
  4. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:43) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  5. Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:483) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #40585) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #40585) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000402) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  9. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/40585/21952080) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Trichosurus vulpecula fuliginosus

Mittermeier & D. E. Wilson, 2015

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

fuliginosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

483

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:483) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus

Mittermeier & D. E. Wilson, 2015

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

hypoleucus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

483

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:483) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Trichosurus vulpecula vulpecula

Mittermeier & D. E. Wilson, 2015

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

vulpecula

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

483

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Mittermeier & Wilson (2015:483) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59410)

Didelphis vulpecula

(Kerr, 1792)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

vulpecula

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

198

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664222

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Didelphis Tapouaru

(F. A. A. Meyer, 1793)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

tapouaru

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

24, 174

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27654906 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27655075

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Didelphis Vulpina

(F. A. A. Meyer, 1793)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

vulpinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

23, 174

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27654905 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27655075

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Didelphis Tapuaru

(André, 1795)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

tapuaru

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

26

Authority publication

Eisenach

Ursus novae Hollandiae

(Bechstein, 1799)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

novaehollandiae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

337 (footnote)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57833202

Authority publication

Weimar

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Didelphis Lemurina

(G. K. Shaw, 1800)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

lemurinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

487

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19632611

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Didelphys cinerea

(Goldfuss, 1809)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

cinereus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

220

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47498054

Authority publication

Erlangen

Name usages

True (1885:587, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306381) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)

Phalangista vulpina

(A. G. Desmarest, 1817)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

vulpina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

475

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18044245

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:218, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207686) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Lesson (1842:188) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  3. Fitzinger (1855:471) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65926)
  4. Blyth (1863:182, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534863) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)

Phalangista xanthopus

(W. Ogilby, 1831)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

xanthopus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

135

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12861545

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista felina

(J. A. Wagner, 1842)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

felinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

76

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31060303

Authority publication

Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista melanura

(J. A. Wagner, 1842)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

melanurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

81

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31060308

Authority publication

Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista selma

(P. Gervais, 1847)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

selma

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

notusedas_valid

Authority page

704

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57440447

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

Phalangista hypoleucus

(J. A. Wagner, 1853)

Family

Phalangeridae

Root name

hypoleucus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

273

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31544380

Authority publication

Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur

Name usages

Groves (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8527)

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