File:Golden brush-tailed possum on branch - DPLA - b9c111a11ea5c4e3bd3f0c44f1765ea3.jpg

35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Diprotodonta; Family: Phalangeridae; Genus: Trichosurus; Genus species: Trichosurus vulpecula. Animal characteristics: Head-Body Length: 35-55 cm; Weight: 1.2-4.5 kg; Identification: The golden brush-tailed possum is usually silver-gray on top but may be red, black, or gold. Its undersides are more pale. The tail is bushy and has a naked underside at the far tip; Habitat: Forests, urban and rural areas; Diet: Herbivore: leaves, herbs, grasses, garden plants; Reproduction: The mating season is in the fall. Gestation lasts 17-18 days. One young is born, staying in the pouch for 4-5 months. Another 1-2 months is spent suckling and riding on the mother's back; Social Structure: Golden brush-tailed possums are solitary, but they may share sleeping sites if there is not enough shelter; Behavior: Golden brush-tailed possums are nocturnal and arboreal; Status: No special status; Interesting Facts: The golden brush-tailed possum is often studied as a model marsupial species. They are often considered pests. The golden color that some brushtails exhibit is actually a genetic mutation.