Introduction

The separation of the ringtail possums and their relatives into a separate family (Archer 1984) to the Petauridae was based mainly on immunological grounds. More detailed molecular work (see Kirsch et al. 1997) has supported this separation. The most notable morphological feature of the family is the presence of selenodont dentition. This is variously seen as a primitive or derived condition (see Aplin & Archer 1987). Much of the morphological divergence seen in the group is the result of ecological specialisation of individual species. The recent practice of splitting the group into many genera is not supported by the molecular data summarised in Kirsch et al. (1997).

The first edition of this work included the Pseudocheiridae within the Petauridae.

General References

Aplin, K.P. & Archer, M. 1987. Recent advances in marsupial systematics with a new syncretic classification. pp. xv-lxxii in Archer, M. (ed.). Possums and Opossums: studies in evolution. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons with the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 2 vols lxxii 788 pp.

Archer, M. 1984. The Australian marsupial radiation. pp. 633-808 in Archer, M. & Clayton, G. (eds). Vertebrate Zoogeography & Evolution in Australasia — Animals in Space & Time. Carlisle : Hesperian Press.

Baverstock, P.R., Kreig, M., Birrell, J. & McKay, G.N. 1990. Albumin immunologic relationships of Australian marsupials II. The Pseudocheiridae. Australian Journal of Zoology 38: 519-526

Edwards, D. & Westerman, M. 1995. The molecular relationships of possum and glider families as revealed by DNA-DNA hybridisations. Australian Journal of Zoology 43: 231-240 [publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84]

Kirsch, J.A.W., Lapointe, F-J. & Springer, M.S. 1997. DNA-hybridisation studies of marsupials and their implications for metatherian classification. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 211-280

McKay, G.M. 1982. Nomenclature of the gliding possum genera Petaurus and Petauroides (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 5: 37-39

McKay, G.M. 1989. Family Petauridae. pp. 665-678 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.

Murray, J.D., Sharman, G.B., McKay, G.M. & Calaby, J.H. 1980. Karyotypes, constitutive heterochromatin and taxonomy of ringtail possums of the genus Pseudocheirus (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics 27: 73-81

Springer, M., McKay, G., Aplin, K. & Kirsch, J. 1992. Relations, among ringtail possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae) based on DNA-DNA hybridisation. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 423-435

History of changes

• Hemibelideus Collett, R. 1884. On some apparently new marsupials from Queensland. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 381-389 pls 29-32 [1 Oct. 1884] [385] [proposed as subgenus of Phalangista Geoffroy and Cuvier, 1795].

  Type species:

   Phalangista (Hemibelideus) lemuroides Collett, 1884 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

History of changes

• Phalangista (Hemibelideus) lemuroides Collett, R. 1884. On some apparently new marsupials from Queensland. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 381-389 pls 29-32 [1 Oct. 1884] [385].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1884.8.19.2 ♀ cast of skull, spur between Gowry Creek and Herbert River, QLD; UZMO 686 ♂ skin & skull, spur between Gowry Creek and Herbert River, QLD.

  Type locality references:

  Lumholtz, C. 1884. Notes upon some mammals recently discovered in Queensland. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 406-409.
• Pseudochirus (Hemibelideus) cervinus Longman, H.A. 1915. A new phalanger from north Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 3: 22-23 [22].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM J2016 ♂ adult, Atherton Tableland, QLD.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122 [28]

Generic Combinations

• Hemibelideus lemuroides (Collett, 1884).
• Pseudocheirus lemuroides (Collett, 1884).

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Between Ingham and Daintree River.

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, folivore, gregarious, montane, nocturnal.

General References

Crowe, O. & Hume, I.D. 1997. Morphology and function of the gastrointestinal tract of Australian folivorous possums. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 357-368

Johnson-Murray, J.L. 1987. The comparative myology of the gliding membranes of Acrobates, Petauroides and Petaurus contrasted with the cutaneous myology of Hemibelideus and Pseudocheirus (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) and with selected gliding Rodentia (Sciuridae and Anomaluridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 35: 101-113

Laurance, W.F. 1990. Effects of weather on marsupial folivore activity in a north Queensland upland tropical rainforest. Australian Mammalogy 13: 41-47

Laurance, W.F. & Gascon, C. 1997. How to creatively fragment a landscape. Conservation Biology 11: 577-579

Laurance, W.F. & Laurance, S.G.W. 1996. Response of five arboreal marsupials to recent selective logging in tropical Australia. Biotropica 28: 310-322

McKay, G.M., McQuade, L.R., Murray, J.D. & von Sturmer, S.R. 1984. Sex-chromosome mosaicism in the lemur like possum Hemibelideus lemuroides (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 37: 131-135

McQuade, L.R. 1984. Taxonomic relationship of the greater glider Petauroides volans and the Lemur-like possum Hemibelideus lemuroides. pp. 303-310 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Springer, M., McKay, G., Aplin, K. & Kirsch, J. 1992. Relations, among ringtail possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae) based on DNA-DNA hybridisation. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 423-435

Trenery, M.P. & Werren, G.L. 1993. Possum assemblages in rainforest of Carbine uplands, NEQ, with special reference to Hemibelideus lemuroides. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 34: 188

Wilson, R.F., Marsh, H. & Winter, J. 2007. Importance of canopy connectivity for home range and movements of the rainforest arboreal ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides). Wildlife Research 34: 177-184

Winter, J. 1991. Mammals. pp. 43-54 in Nix, H.A. & Switzer, M.A. (eds). Rainforest Animals: Atlas of vertebrates endemic to Australia's wet tropics. Canberra : Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 111 pp. [Kowari]

Winter, J.W. 1984. Conservation studies of tropical rainforest possums. pp. 469-481 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Winter, J.W. & Atherton, R.G. 1984. Social group size in north Queensland ringtail possums of the genera Pseudocheirus and Hemibelideus. pp. 311-319 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Winter, J.W. & Goudberg, N.J. 1995. Lemuroid Ringtail Possum Hemibelideus lemuroides. pp. 238-239 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Lemuroid Ringtail Possum)

History of changes

• Petauroides Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls. [3 Nov. 1888] [163] [Schoinobates Lesson, 1842 (=Petaurista Link, 1795) has been used incorrectly for this genus since Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Mem. Aust. Mus. 6: i–xii 1–122; see McKay, G.M. 1982. Nomenclature of the gliding possum genera Petaurus and Petauroides (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 5: 37–39].

  Type species:

   Didelphis volans Kerr, 1792 by monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122; McKay, G.M. 1982. Nomenclature of the gliding possum genera Petaurus and Petauroides (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 5: 37-39.
• Voluccella Bechstein, J.M. 1800. Thomas Pennant's allgemeine Uebersicht der vierfüssigen Thiere.Aus dem englischen übersetzt aud mit Anmerkungen und Zusätzen versehen von J.M. Bechstein. Weimar : Industrie-Comptoir's Vol. 2 xi 323-768 pls 35-54. [351] [non Voluccella Bechstein, 1800; non Voluccella Fabricius, 1794].

  Type species:

   Didelphis volans Kerr, 1792 by original designation (Voluccella nigra proposed originally, = Didelphis volucccella, sensu Meyer 1793, = Petauroides volans, see Maloney & Harris (2008)).
• Petaurista Desmarest, A.G. 1820. Encyclopédie Méthodique. Livr. 89. Mammalogie ou description des espèces de mammifères. Premiere partie, contenant les ordres des bimanes, des quadrumanes et des carnassiers. Paris : V. Agasse 1-276 pp. suppl. pls 1-14. [268] [non Petaurista Link, 1795 (Rodentia); the Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls [3 Nov. 1888] designation of P. taguanoides Desmarest, 1818 as type species antedates that of Petaurus australis Shaw, 1791 by Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Mem. Aust. Mus. 6: i–xii 1–122].

  Type species:

   Petaurus taguanoides Desmarest, 1818 by subsequent designation, see Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls. [3 Nov. 1888].

  Secondary source:

   Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls. [3 Nov. 1888]; Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp.

Introduction

This genus has long been considered to contain the single species P. volans (Kerr, 1792) with two subspecies, P. volans volans ranging from VIC to around Rockhampton, QLD, and P. volans minor (Collett, 1887) north of Rockhampton. However, mounting evidence has shown that it likely contains at least two taxa, and possibly three, that could be recognised at the species level. Jackson & Groves (2015) recognised three species, P. volans, P. minor and in addition P. armillatus Thomas 1923, occurring between northern NSW/southern QLD and Rockhampton, however they only cited personal communication with the late Kenneth Aplin and a brief conference abstract by Arbogast et al. (2011) as their support. More recently McGregor et al. (2020) presented molecular and morphological results that supported the assertion of Jackson & Groves (2015), but their sampling did not include any specimens from NSW, the largest part of P. volans range, and they noted that "additional surveys should be undertaken to obtain a more complete understanding of genetic structure across the range of greater gliders.". Work is currently underway by Kyle Armstrong and Brian Arbogast to address this situation (personal communication) and as such we recognise P. minor as a distinct species but retain P. volans armillatus as a junior synonym of P. volans until their work is completed.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Flinders (FLI), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP) ; Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Wet Tropics (WT)

General References

Arbogast, B., Aplin, K., Armstrong, K., Ogawa, L. & Taylor, A. 2011. Cryptic diversity in an iconic Australian marsupial: the greater glider, Petauroides volans. Joint Meeting of the 57th Scientific Meeting of the Australian Mammal Society with the 91st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Portland State University, Oregon. USA. 24–28 June 2011 (2011). pp.

Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [114]

Maloney, K.S. & Harris, J.M. 2008. Early natural history of the Greater Glider, Petauroides volans (Kerr, 1792). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 129: 39-55

McGregor, D.C., Padovan, A., Georges, A., Krockenberger, A., Yoon, H.-J. & Youngentob, K.N. 2020. Genetic evidence supports three previously described species of greater glider, Petauroides volans, P. minor, and P. armillatus. Scientific Reports

History of changes

• Petaurista volans minor Collett, R. 1887. On a collection of mammals from central and northern Queensland. Zoologische Jahrbücher 2: 829-940 [926].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 1887.5.12.2 ♂ adult skin & skull, Herbert Vale (and originally Coomooboolaroo), QLD.

  Type locality references:

  Thomas, O. 1923. On some Queensland Phalangeridae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 11: 246-250 [1 Feb. 1923] (restricted the type locality to Herbert Vale).
• Petaurides cinereus Ramsay, E.P. 1890. On a new species of Petaurides from the Bellenden-Ker Range, Queensland. Records of the Australian Museum 1: 77-78 [Sept. 1890] [77].

  Type data:

   Lectotype AM M12809 skull only, probably Atherton Tableland (as Bellenden-Ker Range), QLD.

  Type locality references:

  McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Cairns to north of Gladstone, QLD

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Wet Tropics (WT)

Distribution References

Common Name References

Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [114] (Northern Greater Glider)

History of changes

• Didelphis volans Kerr, R. 1792. The Animal Kingdom, or zoological system, of the celebrated Sir Charles Linnaeus; Class 1. Mammalia, containing a complete systematic description, arrangement, and nomenclature, of all the known species and varieties of the Mammalia, or animals which give suck to their young; being a translation of that part of the Systema Naturae, as lately published, with great improvements, by Professor Gmelin of Goettingen. Together with numerous additions from more recent zoological writers, and illustrated with copper plates. London : J. Murray & R. Faulder 1 Pt 1 xl 400 pp. 9 pls. [199] [based on 'Black Flying Opossum' of Anon. in Phillip, A. 1789. The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay; with an account of the establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island; compiled from authentic papers, which have been obtained from the several Departments. To which are added, the journals of Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Ball, & Capt. Marshall; with an account of their new discoveries embellished with fifty five copper plates, the maps and charts taken from actual surveys, & the plans and views drawn on the spot, by Capt. Hunter, Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Dawes, Bradley, Capt. Marshall, &c. London : J. Stockdale lxxiv 298 pp.; confused in early years with Petaurus australis Shaw, 1791; see McKay, G.M. 1982. Nomenclature of the gliding possum genera Petaurus and Petauroides (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 5: 37–39].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, vicinity of Sydney, NSW (as New South Wales).

  Secondary source:

   Phillip, A. 1789. The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay; with an account of the establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island; compiled from authentic papers, which have been obtained from the several Departments. To which are added, the journals of Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Ball, & Capt. Marshall; with an account of their new discoveries embellished with fifty five copper plates, the maps and charts taken from actual surveys, & the plans and views drawn on the spot, by Capt. Hunter, Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Dawes, Bradley, Capt. Marshall, &c. London : J. Stockdale lxxiv 298 pp.; McKay, G.M. 1982. Nomenclature of the gliding possum genera Petaurus and Petauroides (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 5: 37-39.
• Didelphis voluccella Meyer, F.A.A. 1793. Systematisch-Summarische Uebersicht der neuesten Zoologischen Entdeckungen in Neuholland und Afrika. Nebst zwey andern Zoologischen Abhandlungen. Leipzig : Dykischen Buchhandlung 184 pp. [publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84] [26] [on same basis as Didelphis volans Kerr, 1792].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, NSW.
• Didelphis macroura Shaw, C. 1794. Zoology of New Holland. London : J. Sowerby. [33].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, vicinity of Sydney, NSW (as New Holland).
• Voluccella nigra Bechstein, J.M. 1800. Thomas Pennant's allgemeine Uebersicht der vierfüssigen Thiere.Aus dem englischen übersetzt aud mit Anmerkungen und Zusätzen versehen von J.M. Bechstein. Weimar : Industrie-Comptoir's Vol. 2 xi 323-768 pls 35-54. [351] [based on both 'Black flying' possum Phillip (1789) and 'Hepoona Roo' of Hunter in White (1790)].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, NSW.
• Petaurus taguanoides Anonymous 1818. Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine etc. Par une société de naturalistes et d'agriculteurs. Nouvelle edition presqu’entièrement refondue et considérarablement augmentée; avec des figures tirées des trois règnes de la nature. Paris : Deterville Vol. 25. [Date published 26 Dec. 1818] [400].

  Type data:

   Lectotype MNHP Nouv. Cat. Gal. Nº 189, vicinity of Sydney, NSW (as New South Wales).

  Subsequent designation references:

  Beaufort, F. de 1966. Catalogue des types des mammifères du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. VI Monotremata. VII Marsupialia. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [published 1907-1971] 2 38(5): 509-553.
• Petaurus peronii Anonymous 1818. Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine etc. Par une société de naturalistes et d'agriculteurs. Nouvelle edition presqu’entièrement refondue et considérarablement augmentée; avec des figures tirées des trois règnes de la nature. Paris : Deterville Vol. 25. [Date published 26 Dec. 1818] [404].

  Type data:

   Lectotype MNHP Nouv. Cat. Gal. Nº 200 ♂ skin, Sydney, NSW (as New Holland).

  Subsequent designation references:

  Beaufort, F. de 1966. Catalogue des types des mammifères du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. VI Monotremata. VII Marsupialia. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [published 1907-1971] 2 38(5): 509-553.
• Petaurus didelphoides Cuvier, G.L.C.F.D. 1825. Des Dents des Mammifères considérées comme Charactères Zoologiques (1821–1825). Paris : F.-G. Levrault iv 259-103 pls. [129].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, 'Australie'.
• Petaurus maximus Partington, C.F. 1837. The British Cyclopaedia of Arts and Sciences (Literature, history, geography, law and politics. Natural history. Biography). London Vol. 3. [424] [nom. nud.; reference as quoted by Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Mem. Aust. Mus. 6: i–xii 1–122; p. 424 of Vol. 3 contains no reference to this or any other mammal].

  Secondary source:

   Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122.
• Petauroides volans incanus Thomas, O. 1923. On some Queensland Phalangeridae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 11: 246-250 [1 Feb. 1923] [247].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1922.12.29.19 ♂ adult skin & skull, Eidsvold, QLD.
• Petauroides volans armillatus Thomas, O. 1923. On some Queensland Phalangeridae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 11: 246-250 [1 Feb. 1923] [248].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1887.5.12.2 ♂ adult skin & skull (holotype is one of the syntypes of Petaurista volans minor Collett, 1887), Coomooboolaroo Station, 25 km SW of Duaringa, QLD.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122 [29-30]
• McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [91]
• Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [114-115]

Generic Combinations

• Voluccella macroura (Shaw, 1794). —
  Bechstein, J.M. 1800. Thomas Pennant's allgemeine Uebersicht der vierfüssigen Thiere.Aus dem englischen übersetzt aud mit Anmerkungen und Zusätzen versehen von J.M. Bechstein. Weimar : Industrie-Comptoir's Vol. 2 xi 323-768 pls 35-54.
• Phalangista macroura (Shaw, 1794). —
  Schinz, H.R. 1821. Das Tierreich eingeheilt nach dem Bau der Thiere als Grundlage ihrer Naturgeschichte und der Vergleichenden Anatomie von dem Herrn Ritter von Cuvier Staatsgrath von Fransreich und beständiger Secretär der Academie der Wissenschaften U.S.W. Aus dem Französischen frey übersetzt und mit vielen Zusätzen versehen. Säugethiere und Vögel. Stuttgart : J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung.
• Petaurista macroura (Shaw, 1794). —
  Desmarest, A.G. 1820. Encyclopédie Méthodique. Livr. 89. Mammalogie ou description des espèces de mammifères. Premiere partie, contenant les ordres des bimanes, des quadrumanes et des carnassiers. Paris : V. Agasse 1-276 pp. suppl. pls 1-14.
• Petaurus macrourus (Shaw, 1794). —
  Desmarest, A.G. 1817. Nouveau Dictionnaire d´Histoire Naturelle. Paris : Deterville Vol. 25 400-404 pp.
• Petaurus niger (Bechstein, 1800). —
  Oken, L. 1816. Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte. Th. 3, Zoologie, Abth. 2, Fleischthiere. Jena : August Schmid xvi + 1270 pp.
• Petaurista taguanoides (Desmarest, 1817). —
  Desmarest, A.G. 1820. Encyclopédie Méthodique. Livr. 89. Mammalogie ou description des espèces de mammifères. Premiere partie, contenant les ordres des bimanes, des quadrumanes et des carnassiers. Paris : V. Agasse 1-276 pp. suppl. pls 1-14.
• Schoinobates volans volans (Kerr, 1792). —
  Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122 [29]
• Phalanger volans (Kerr, 1792). —
  Lacépède, B.-G. 1801. [title]. Mémoires de l'Institut de Paris iii
• Petaurista volans (Kerr, 1792). —
  Thomas, O. 1885. Phalanger. In The Encyclopædia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, and general literature. Edinburgh : Adam & Charles Black Vol. 18 (9th Edition) 18. 727-729 pp.
• Pataurus volans (Kerr, 1792). —
  Thomas, O. 1879. On Robert Kerr's translation of the 'Systema Naturae' of Linnaeus. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4(5): 396-397
• Phalangista volans (Kerr, 1792). —
  Desmarest, A.G. 1803. Nouveau Dictionnaire d´Histoire Naturelle Vol. 17 Paris : Deterville. 381 pp.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Flinders (FLI), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Ecological Descriptors

Folivore, glider, nocturnal, open forest, tall open forest, temperate, tropical.

General References

Comport, S.S., Ward, S.J. & Foley, W.J. 1996. Home ranges, time budgets, and food tree use in a high density tropical population of greater gliders, Petauroides volans minor (Pseudocheiridae, Marsupialia). Wildlife Research 23: 401-419

Foley, W.J., Hume, I.D. & Cork, S.J. 1989. Fermentation in the hindgut of the greater glider (Petauroides volans) and the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) - two arboreal folivores. Physiological Zoology 62: 1126-1143

Henry, S.R. 1984. Social organization of the Greater glider (Petauroides volans) in Victoria. pp. 221-228 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Hume, I.D., Foley, W.J. & Chilcott, M.J. 1984. Physiological mechanisms of foliage digestion in greater glider and ringtail possum (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae). pp. 247-251 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Hume, I.D., Foley, W.J. & Chilcott, M.J. 1984. Physiological mechanisms of foliage digestion in the greater glider and ringtail possum. pp. 247-251 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Kehl, J. & Borsboom, A. 1984. Home range, den tree use and activity patterns in the Greater glider, Petauroides volans. pp. 229-236 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Kerle, A. 2001. Possums: The Brushtails, Ringtails and Greater Glider. Sydney : University of NSW Press.

McKay, G.M. 1995. Greater Glider Petauroides volans. pp. 240-241 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

McQuade, L.R. 1985. B-chromosome systems in the greater glider (Petauroides volans volans) (Marsupialia: Petauridae). I B-chromosome distribution. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 38: 189-195

Murray, J.D., McKay, G.M. & Sharman, G.B. 1979. Studies on metatherian sex chromosomes. IX. Sex chromosomes of the greater glider (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 32: 375-386

Common Name References

Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [114] (Southern Greater Glider)

History of changes

• Petropseudes Thomas, O. 1923. On some Queensland Phalangeridae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 11: 246-250 [1 Feb. 1923] [250] [proposed as subgenus of Pseudocheirus Ogilby, 1837].

  Type species:

   Pseudochirus dahli Collett, 1895 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Daly Basin (DAB), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

History of changes

• Pseudochirus dahli Collett, R. 1895. On a new Pseudochirus from N.W. Australia. Zoologischer Anzeiger 18(490): 464-468 [2 Dec. 1895] [464].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1897.4.12.4 ♀ adult skin & skull, Mary River, NT; RMNH 1218/13392 ♀ adult skin & skull, Mary River, NT; UZMO 1217 ♀ skin & skull, Mary River, NT.

Generic Combinations

• Petropseudes dahli (Collett, 1895).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Including Groote Eylandt.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Daly Basin (DAB), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Ecological Descriptors

Coastal, florivore, folivore, frugivorous, nocturnal, terrestrial, woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Restricted to rocky outcrops and escarpments.

General References

Crowe, O. & Hume, I.D. 1997. Morphology and function of the gastrointestinal tract of Australian folivorous possums. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 357-368

Kerle, J.A. & Winter, J.W. 1995. Rock Ringtail Possum Petropseudes dahli. pp. 242-243 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Runcie, M.J. 2000. Biparental care and obligate monogamy in the rock-haunting possum, (Petrospeudes dahli) of tropical Australian. Animal Behaviour 59: 1001-1008

Runcie, M.J. 2004. Scent-marking and vocal communication in the rock-haunting possum Petropseudes dahli. pp. 401-412 in Goldingay, R.L. & Jackson, S.M. (eds). The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Rock Ringtail Possum)

History of changes

• Pseudocheirus Ogilby, W. 1837. Observations on the opposable power of the thumb in certain mammals, considered as a zoological character; and on the natural affinities which subsist between the Bimana, Quadrumana, and Pedimana. Magazine of Natural History Charlesworth 1: 449-459 [Sept. 1837] [457].

  Type species:

   Phalangista cookii Desmarest, 1818 (=Pseudocheirus peregrinus Desmarest, 1818) by subsequent designation, see Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls. [3 Nov. 1888].
• Pseudochirus [Ogilby, W.] 1836. Anonymous untitled abstract of presentation by W. Ogilby. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1836: 25-28 [26] [incorrect original spelling, later corrected in Ogilby, W. (1837). op. cit. et subseq.].
• Hepoona Gray, J.E. 1841. Contributions towards the geographical distribution of the Mammalia in Australia, with notes on some recently discovered species, in a letter addressed to the Author. Appendix C. pp. 397-414 in Grey, G. (ed.). Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia During the Years 1837, 38, and 39, Under the Authority of Her Majesty's Government. Describing many newly discovered, important, and fertile districts, with observations on the moral and physical condition of the aboriginal inhabitants, &c. &c. London : T. & W. Boone Vol. 2 vii 482 pp. [Date published Nov. 1841] [402] [Hepoona of Ogilby, W. 1838. Observations upon some recent communications of Mr. J.E. Gray, of the British Museum, to the Annals of Natural History; with descriptions of two new kangaroos from Van Diemen's Land. Annals of Natural History 1: 216–221 [Published in 1 May 1838 and republished in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. in July 1838] [218] was used in synonymy and is therefore not available; the first available use of Hepoona is Gray, op. cit.].

  Type species:

   Phalangista cookii Desmarest, 1818 by indication.

  Secondary source:

   Ogilby, W. 1838. Observations upon some recent communications of Mr. J.E. Gray, of the British Museum, to the Annals of Natural History; with descriptions of two new kangaroos from Van Diemen's Land. Annals of Natural History 1: 216-221 [Published in 1 May 1838 and republished in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. in July 1838].
• Ptenos Gray, J.E. 1843. List of the Specimens of Mammalia in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xxviii 216 pp. [publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84] [xxii] [first used as a synonym of Hepoona].
• Pseudochirulus Matschie, P. 1915. Einige Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Pseudochirus Ogilby. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 4: 83-95 [Date published 15 April 1915] [91] [proposed as subgenus of Pseudocheirus Ogilby, 1837].

  Type species:

   Phalangista (Pseudochirus) canescens Waterhouse, 1846 by original designation (extralimital).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [94]
• Kirsch, J.A.W., Lapointe, F-J. & Springer, M.S. 1997. DNA-hybridisation studies of marsupials and their implications for metatherian classification. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 211-280 (summarises relevent molecular data)

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya including Japen and Salawatti Ils.

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Plains (GUP), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Pseudochirus occidentalis Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls. [3 Nov. 1888] [174].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1841.1198 (37.K.) ♀ adult skin & skull, King George Sound, WA.

Generic Combinations

• Pseudocheirus occidentalis (Thomas, 1888).

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Jarrah Forest (JF), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Warren (WAR)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, florivore, folivore, nocturnal, open forest, subtropical, tall open forest, woodland.

General References

de Torres, P.J., Hayward, M.W. & Rosier, S.M. 2004. The western ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus occidentalis, and the quokka, Setonix brachyurus. Case studies: Western Shield Review – February 2003. Conservation Science Western Australia 5: 235-257

Jones, B.A., How, R.A. & Kitchener, D.J. 1994. A field study of Pseudocheirus occidentalis (Marsupialia: Petauridae). II. Population studies. Wildlife Research 21: 189-202

Thompson, S.A. & Thompson, G.G 2009. A case for in situ management of Western Ringtail Possums, Pseudocheirus occidentalis, in development areas. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 92(3): 269-276

Wayne, A.F., Cowling, D.B., Lindenmayer, D.B., Ward, C.G., Vellios, C.V, Donnelly, C.F. & Calver, M.C. 2005. The abundance of a threatened arboreal marsupial in relation to anthropogenic disturbances at local and landscape scales in Mediterranean type forest in south-west Australia. Biological Conservation 127: 463-476

History of changes

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Ride, W.D.L. 1970. A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia. Melbourne : Oxford University Press xiv 249 pp. 62 pls. [224]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Including Flinders and King Ils.

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Plains (GUP), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), King (KIN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, florivore, folivore, nocturnal, open forest, subtropical, tall open forest, woodland.

General References

Armati-Gulson, P. & Lowe, J. 1984. The development of the reproductive system of the common Ringtail Possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 7: 75-88

Augee, M.L., Smith, B. & Rose, S. 1996. Survival of wild and hand-reared ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in bushland near Sydney. Wildlife Research 23: 99-108

Braithwaite, L.W., Binns, D.L. & Nowlan, R.D. 1988. The distribution of arboreal marsupials in relation to eucalypt forest types in the Eden (NSW) Woodchip Concession Area. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 363-373

Chilcott, M. & Hume, I.D. 1984. Digestion of Eucalyptus andrewsii foliage by the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Australian Journal of Zoology 32: 605-613

Chilcott, M. & Hume, I.D. 1984. Nitrogen and ures metabolism and nitrogen requirements of the common ringtail possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus, fed Eucalyptus andrewsii foliage. Australian Journal of Zoology 32: 615-622

Chilcott, M.J. 1984. Coprophagy in the common Ringtail Possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Marsupialia: Petauridae). Australian Mammalogy 7: 107-110

Chilcott, M.J. & Hume, I.D. 1985. Coprophagy and selective retention of fluid digesta: their role in the nutrition of the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Australian Journal of Zoology 33: 1-15

Cork, S.J. & Pahl, L. 1984. The possible influence of nutritional factors on diet and habitat selection by the ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). pp. 269-276 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Crowe, O. & Hume, I.D. 1997. Morphology and function of the gastrointestinal tract of Australian folivorous possums. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 357-368

Ellis, M. & Jones, B. 1992. Observations of captive and wild western ringtail possums Pseudocheirus occidentalis. Western Australian Naturalist 19: 1-10

Foley, W.J. 1992. Nitrogen and energy retention and acid-base status of the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus): evidence of the effects of absorbed allelochemicals. Physiological Zoology 65: 403-421

Gipps, J.M. & Sanson, G.D. 1984. Mastication and digestion in Pseudocheirus. pp. 237-246 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

How, R.A., Barnett, J.L., Bradley, A.J., Humphreys, W.P. & Martin, R. 1984. The population biology of Pseudocheirus peregrinus in a Leptospermum laevigatum thicket. pp. 261-268 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Hughes, R.L., Thomson, J.A. & Owen, W.H. 1965. Reproduction in natural population of the Australian ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) in Victoria. Australian Journal of Zoology 13: 383-406

Hume, I.D., Bladon, R.V. & Soran, N. 1996. Seasonal changes in digestive performance of common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) fed Eucalyptus foliage. Australian Journal of Zoology 44: 327-336

Hume, I.D., Foley, W.J. & Chilcott, M.J. 1984. Physiological mechanisms of foliage digestion in greater glider and ringtail possum (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae). pp. 247-251 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Hume, I.D., Foley, W.J. & Chilcott, M.J. 1984. Physiological mechanisms of foliage digestion in the greater glider and ringtail possum. pp. 247-251 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Inions, G.B., Tanton, M.T. & Davey, S.M. 1989. Effect of fire on the availability of hollows in trees used by the common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr, 1792, and the ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus Boddaert, 1785. Australian Wildlife Research 16: 449-458

Jones, B. & Hillcox, S. 1995. A survey of the possums Trichosurus vulpecula and Pseudocheirus occidentalis and their habitats in forest at Ludlow, Western Australia. Western Australian Naturalist 1995: 139-150

Jones, B.A., How, R.A. & Kitchener, D.J. 1994. A field study of Pseudocheirus occidentalis (Marsupialia : Petauridae). I. distribution and habitat. Wildlife Research 21: 175-187

Kerle, A. 2001. Possums: The Brushtails, Ringtails and Greater Glider. Sydney : University of NSW Press.

Lindenmayer, D.B. & Cunningham, R.B. 1997. Patterns of co-occurrence among marsupials in the forests of central Victoria, southeastern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 22: 340-346

Lunney, D. 1987. Effects of logging, fire and drought on possums and gliders in the coastal forests near Bega, NSW. Australian Wildlife Research 14: 263-274

Maxwell, S., Burbidge, A.A. & Morris, K. 1996. The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes. Canberra : Wildlife Australia 234 pp. (as P. occidentalis)

McArthur, C. & Sanson, G.D. 1991. Effects of tannins in the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), a specialised marsupial folivore. Journal of Zoology, London 225: 233-251

McKay, G.M. & Ong, P. 1995. Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus. pp. 254-256 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

McLean, S., Foley, W.J., Davies, N.W., Brandon, S., Duo, Li & Blackman, A.J. 1993. Metabolic fate of dietary terpines from Eucalyptus radiata in common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). Journal of Chemical Ecology 19: 1625-1644

Munks, S. 1995. The breeding biology of Pseudocheirus peregrinus viverrinus on Flinders Island, Bass Strait. Wildlife Research 22: 521-534

Munks, S.A., Green, B., Newgrain, K. 1991. Milk composition in the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Petauridae: Marsupialia). Australian Journal of Zoology 39: 403-416

Munks, S.A. & Green, B. 1995. Energy allocation for reproduction in a marsupial arboreal folivore, the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). Oecologia (Berlin) 101: 94-104

Munks, S.A. & Green, B. 1997. Milk consumption and growth in a marsupial arboreal folivore, the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus. Physiological Zoology 70: 691-700

Pahl, L. 1984. Diet preferences, diet composition and population density of the ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus cooki) in several plant communities in southern Victoria. pp. 253-260 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Pahl, L.I. 1987. Feeding behaviour and diet of the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus, in Eucalyptus woodlands and Leptospermum thickets in southern Victoria. Australian Journal of Zoology 35: 487-506

Pahl, L.I. 1987. Survival, age determination and population age structure of the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus, in a Eucalyptus woodland and a Leptospermum thicket in southern Victoria. Australian Journal of Zoology 35: 625-639

Pahl, L.I. & Lee, A.K. 1988. Reproductive traits of two populations of the common ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus, in Victoria. Australian Journal of Zoology 36: 83-97

Sakaguchi, E. & Hume, I.D. 1990. Digesta retention and fibre digestion in brushtail possums, ringtail possums and rabbits. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 96: 351-354

Springer, M., McKay, G., Aplin, K. & Kirsch, J. 1992. Relations, among ringtail possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae) based on DNA-DNA hybridisation. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 423-435

Thomson, J.A. & Owen, W.H. 1964. A field study of the Australian ringtail possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae). Ecological Monographs 34: 27-52

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Common Ringtail Possum)

History of changes

• Phalangista convolutor Schinz, H.R. 1821. Das Tierreich eingeheilt nach dem Bau der Thiere als Grundlage ihrer Naturgeschichte und der Vergleichenden Anatomie von dem Herrn Ritter von Cuvier Staatsgrath von Fransreich und beständiger Secretär der Academie der Wissenschaften U.S.W. Aus dem Französischen frey übersetzt und mit vielen Zusätzen versehen. Säugethiere und Vögel. Stuttgart : J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. [258] [Balantia convolutor Oken, 1816 upon which Schinz's name is undoubtedly based, is not available, see International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1956. Opinion 417. Rejection for nomenclatorial purposes of volume 3 (Zoologie) of the work by Lorenz Oken entitled Okens Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte published in 1815–1816. Opin. Decl. Int. Comm. Zool. Nomen. 14: 1–42].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Adventure Bay, TAS.

  Secondary source:

   International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1956. Opinion 417. Rejection for nomenclatorial purposes of volume 3 (Zoologie) of the work by Lorenz Oken entitled Okens Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte published in 1815–1816. Opinions and Declarations rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 14: 1-42.
• Phalangista viverrina Ogilby, W. 1838. (untitled abstract). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1837: 131 [14 June 1838].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1855.12.24.213 ♀ adult skin & skull, TAS (as Van Diemen's Land).

  Subsequent designation references:

  Tate, G.H.H. 1945. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 54 The marsupial genus Pseudocheirus and its subgenera. American Museum Novitates 1287: 1-30 [11 June 1945].
• Pseudochirus cooki bassianus Le Souef, A.S. 1929. Notes on some mammals from Bass Strait Islands, including a new subspecies of Pseudochirus. The Australian Zoologist 5: 329-332 [24 Mar. 1929] [330].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM M4450 ♂ adult skin & skull, Flinders Is., Bass Strait.
• Phalangista incana Schinz, H.R. 1844. Systematisches vertzeichniss aller bis jetzt bekannten Säugethiere, oder Synopsis mammalium nach dem Cuvier'schen System. Solothurn : Publisher unknown 1 pp. [530].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, unknown locality, said to be TAS.

  Type locality references:

  Iredale, T. & Troughton, E. le G. 1934. A check-list of the mammals recorded from Australia. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 6: i-xii 1-122.

Distribution

States

Tasmania

IBRA

Tas: Australian Alps (AA), Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, florivore, folivore, nocturnal, open forest, subtropical, tall open forest, woodland.

History of changes

• Phalangista cookii Anonymous 1818. Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine etc. Par une société de naturalistes et d'agriculteurs. Nouvelle edition presqu’entièrement refondue et considérarablement augmentée; avec des figures tirées des trois règnes de la nature. Paris : Deterville Vol. 25. [Date published 26 Dec. 1818] [476] [described from 2 specimens collected by Péron; although reference is made to plate in Cook's 3rd voyage, description is not from that plate].

  Type data:

   Lectotype MNHP Nouv. Cat. Gal. Nº 201 (skin) and Comp. Anat. A.2571 Skull ♂. adult, 'Australie' according to Péron's label; Desmarest, op. cit., gives 'terre de Van Diémen'; mainland Australia probably Sydney, NSW.
  Paralectotype(s) MNHP Comp. Anat. A.2571 (skull) ♂ adult.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Beaufort, F. de 1966. Catalogue des types des mammifères du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. VI Monotremata. VII Marsupialia. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [published 1907-1971] 2 38(5): 509-553.

  Type locality references:

  Ogilby, W. 1838. Observations upon some recent communications of Mr. J.E. Gray, of the British Museum, to the Annals of Natural History; with descriptions of two new kangaroos from Van Diemen's Land. Annals of Natural History 1: 216-221 [Published in 1 May 1838 and republished in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. in July 1838].
• Pseudochirus victoriae Matschie, P. 1915. Einige Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Pseudochirus Ogilby. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 4: 83-95 [Date published 15 April 1915] [85].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMB 20698 ♀ adult skin & skull, Cape Otway, VIC.
• Pseudochirus laniginosus modestus Thomas, O. 1926. On various animals obtained during Capt. Wilkin's expedition in Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 17: 625-635 [June 1926] [632] [label on holotype reads: '26.3.11.37. Oct. 1924. Collector's No. 764. St. George's River. NSW Australia. Coll. G.H. Wilkins W.R.I.E.' - at that time Wilkins was in Arnhem Land].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1926.3.11.37 ♂ subadult skin only (unknown locality; said to be 'St. George's River, NSW', but no such place exists or existed. Possibly from George's River, Sydney, NSW as this specimen and a paratype now in QM (J4518) were among specimens sent back at end of Wilkins' expedition, and probably were animals purchased from J.H. Wright. All Wilkins' NSW specimens (from Ebor) were catalogued at BMNH in 1925 from an earlier shipment), unknown locality.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

SE NSW, coastal VIC, SE SA.

IBRA

NSW, SA, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Flinders (FLI), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, florivore, folivore, nocturnal, open forest, subtropical, tall open forest, woodland.

History of changes

• Didelphis peregrinus Boddaert, P. 1785. Elenchus Animalium. Vol. I. Sistens Quadrupedia eorumque varietates. Rotterdam : C.R. Hake. [78] [based on 'New Holland Opossum' of Pennant, T. 1783. History of the Quadrupeds. London : B. White xxiv 566 +14 pp. 52 pls [310]].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Endeavour River, QLD.

  Secondary source:

   Pennant, T. 1783. History of the Quadrupeds. London : B. White xxiv 566 +14 pp. 52 pls.
• Didelphis caudivolvula Kerr, R. 1792. The Animal Kingdom, or zoological system, of the celebrated Sir Charles Linnaeus; Class 1. Mammalia, containing a complete systematic description, arrangement, and nomenclature, of all the known species and varieties of the Mammalia, or animals which give suck to their young; being a translation of that part of the Systema Naturae, as lately published, with great improvements, by Professor Gmelin of Goettingen. Together with numerous additions from more recent zoological writers, and illustrated with copper plates. London : J. Murray & R. Faulder 1 Pt 1 xl 400 pp. 9 pls. [196] [on same basis as D. peregrinus Boddaert, P. 1785. Elenchus Animalium. Vol. I. Sistens Quadrupedia eorumque varietates. Rotterdam : C.R. Hake].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, (as New Holland near Endeavour River), QLD.

  Secondary source:

   Boddaert, P. 1785. Elenchus Animalium. Vol. I. Sistens Quadrupedia eorumque varietates. Rotterdam : C.R. Hake.
• Didelphis novaehollandiae Bechstein, J.M. 1800. Thomas Pennant's allgemeine Uebersicht der vierfüssigen Thiere.Aus dem englischen übersetzt aud mit Anmerkungen und Zusätzen versehen von J.M. Bechstein. Weimar : Industrie-Comptoir's Vol. 2 xi 323-768 pls 35-54. [348] [on same basis as D. peregrinus Boddaert, P. 1785. Elenchus Animalium. Vol. I. Sistens Quadrupedia eorumque varietates. Rotterdam : C.R. Hake].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Endeavour River, QLD.

  Secondary source:

   Boddaert, P. 1785. Elenchus Animalium. Vol. I. Sistens Quadrupedia eorumque varietates. Rotterdam : C.R. Hake.
• Phalangista cookii Schinz, H.R. 1821. Das Tierreich eingeheilt nach dem Bau der Thiere als Grundlage ihrer Naturgeschichte und der Vergleichenden Anatomie von dem Herrn Ritter von Cuvier Staatsgrath von Fransreich und beständiger Secretär der Academie der Wissenschaften U.S.W. Aus dem Französischen frey übersetzt und mit vielen Zusätzen versehen. Säugethiere und Vögel. Stuttgart : J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. [258] [junior homonym of P. cookii Desmarest, 1818].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, 'north coast of New Holland'.
• Phalangista banksii Gray, J.E. 1838. Notes on the above, with descriptions of two new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 1: 106-108 [publication date established from Duncan, F.M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society's 'Proceedings', 1859–1926. With an appendix containing the dates of publication of 'Proceedings', 1830–1858, compiled by the late F.H. Waterhouse, and of the 'Transactions', 1853–1869, by the late Henry Peavot, originally published in P.Z.S. 1893, 1913. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 107: 71–84 [71]] [107] [based on 'New Holland Opossum' of Pennant, T. 1783. History of the Quadrupeds. London : B. White xxiv 566 +14 pp. 52 pls [301]; Balantia banksii Oken, 1816 is not available, see International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1956. Opinion 417. Rejection for nomenclatorial purposes of volume 3 (Zoologie) of the work by Lorenz Oken entitled Okens Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte published in 1815–1816. Opin. Decl. Int. Comm. Zool. Nomen. 14: 1–42].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Endeavour River, QLD.

  Secondary source:

   Pennant, T. 1783. History of the Quadrupeds. London : B. White xxiv 566 +14 pp. 52 pls.; International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1956. Opinion 417. Rejection for nomenclatorial purposes of volume 3 (Zoologie) of the work by Lorenz Oken entitled Okens Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte published in 1815–1816. Opinions and Declarations rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 14: 1-42.
• Pseudochirus laniginosus incanens Thomas, O. 1923. On some Queensland Phalangeridae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 11: 246-250 [1 Feb. 1923] [249].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1922.12.18.26 ♀ adult skin & skull, Vine Creek, near Ravenshoe, QLD.
• Pseudochirus laniginosus notialis Thomas, O. 1923. On the ring-tailed phalanger of South Australia, and a new rat from North Queensland. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 12: 158-160 [158].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1923.5.11.1 ♂ adult skin & skull, Aldgate, Mt Lofty, near Adelaide, SA.
• Pseudochirus laniginosus oralis Thomas, O. 1926. On various animals obtained during Capt. Wilkin's expedition in Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 17: 625-635 [June 1926] [631].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1926.3.11.28 ♂ adult skin & skull, Bloomsbury (as 'Bloombury'), QLD.
• Pseudochirus rubidus Troughton, E. le G. & Le Souef, A.S. 1929. A new species of ring-tailed phalanger (Ps. laniginosus group) from the Bunya Mountains, S.E. Queensland. Records of the Australian Museum 17: 291-296 [28 Nov. 1929] [294].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM M2791 ♀ adult skin & skull, N of Mt Mowbullan, Bunya Range, QLD.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [95] (based on Ride (1970: 224))

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gulf Plains (GUP), Kanmantoo (KAN), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, florivore, folivore, nocturnal, open forest, subtropical, tall open forest, woodland.

General References

Kerle, A. 2001. Possums: The Brushtails, Ringtails and Greater Glider. Sydney : University of NSW Press.

Ride, W.D.L. 1970. A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia. Melbourne : Oxford University Press xiv 249 pp. 62 pls.

History of changes

• Pseudochirus pulcher Matschie, P. 1915. Einige Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Pseudochirus Ogilby. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 4: 83-95 [Date published 15 April 1915] [85] [intended as replacement name for Phalangista cookii Gould, 1858; Matschie accepted that P. cookii Gould was not equivalent to P. cookii Desmarest].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMB 5534 ♀ adult skin & skull, no specified locality, but probably from northern rivers region of NSW, see McKay, G.M., unpublished data.
• Phalangista cookii Gould, J. 1856. The Mammals of Australia. London : J. Gould Part 8. [text to pl. 18] [junior homonym of P. cookii Desmarest, 1818; junior homonym of P. cookii Schinz, 1821; label of lectotype inscribed in Gould's hand: 'Phalangista cookii Brushes of Clarence'].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1856.10.28.10 ♀ adult skin & skull, 'Brushes of Clarence' River, NSW.

  Subsequent designation references:

  McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp.
• Phalangista laniginosa Gould, J. 1856. The Mammals of Australia. London : J. Gould Part 8. [text to pl. 20].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1858.11.24.12 ♂ adult skin & skull, Dartbrook, near Muswellbrook, upper Hunter River, NSW.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Thomas, O. 1888. Catalogue of the Marsupialia and Monotremata in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History). London : British Museum xiii 401 pp. 28 pls. [3 Nov. 1888].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

NE NSW, SE Qld.

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, florivore, folivore, nocturnal, open forest, subtropical, tall open forest, woodland.

History of changes

• Pseudochirops Matschie, P. 1915. Einige Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Pseudochirus Ogilby. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 4: 83-95 [Date published 15 April 1915] [86] [proposed as subgenus of Pseudocheirus Ogilby, 1837].

  Type species:

   Phalangista (Pseudochirus) albertisii Peters, 1874 by original designation (extralimital).

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya including Japen Is.

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Phalangista (Pseudochirus) archeri Collett, R. 1884. On some apparently new marsupials from Queensland. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 381-389 pls 29-32 [1 Oct. 1884] [381].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1884.8.19.6 ♂ cast of skull, vicinity of Herbert River, as 'Herbert Vale', QLD; UZMO 1633 ♂ skin & skull, vicinity of Herbert River, as 'Herbert Vale', QLD.

Generic Combinations

• Pseudochirops archeri (Collett, 1884).
• Pseudocheirus archeri (Collett, 1884).

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Between Townsville and Cooktown.

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, folivore, montane, nocturnal.

General References

Crowe, O. & Hume, I.D. 1997. Morphology and function of the gastrointestinal tract of Australian folivorous possums. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 357-368

Jones, K.M.W., Maclagan, S.J. & Krockenberger, A.K. 2006. Diet selection in the green ringtail possum (Pseudochirops archeri): a specialist folivore in a diverse forest. Austral Ecology 31: 779-807

Kanowski, J. 2004. What factors control the distribution and abundance of folivores inhabiting rainforest of the Atherton Tablelands in north-east Queensland? pp. 539-548 in Goldingay, R.L. & Jackson, S.M. (eds). The Biology of Australian Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons.

Laurance, W.F. 1990. Effects of weather on marsupial folivore activity in a north Queensland upland tropical rainforest. Australian Mammalogy 13: 41-47

Laurance, W.F. & Laurance, S.G.W. 1996. Response of five arboreal marsupials to recent selective logging in tropical Australia. Biotropica 28: 310-322

Procter-Gray, E. 1984. Dietary ecology of the Coppery brushtail possum, Green ringtail possum and Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo in North Queensland. pp. 129-135 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Russell, R. 1980. Spotlight on Possums. Brisbane : University of Queensland Press.

Springer, M., McKay, G., Aplin, K. & Kirsch, J. 1992. Relations, among ringtail possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae) based on DNA-DNA hybridisation. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 423-435

Winter, J. 1991. Mammals. pp. 43-54 in Nix, H.A. & Switzer, M.A. (eds). Rainforest Animals: Atlas of vertebrates endemic to Australia's wet tropics. Canberra : Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 111 pp. [Kowari]

Winter, J.W. 1984. Conservation studies of tropical rainforest possums. pp. 469-481 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Winter, J.W. & Atherton, R.G. 1984. Social group size in north Queensland ringtail possums of the genera Pseudocheirus and Hemibelideus. pp. 311-319 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Winter, J.W. & Goudberg, N.J. 1995. Green Ringtail Possum Pseudochirops archeri. pp. 244-246 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Green Ringtail Possum)

History of changes

• Pseudochirulus Matschie, P. 1915. Einige Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Pseudochirus Ogilby. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 4: 83-95 [Date published 15 April 1915] [91] [as subgenus of Pseudochirus].

  Type species:

   Pseudochirus canescens Waterhouse, 1846 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

History of changes

• Pseudocheirus herbertensis cinereus Tate, G.H.H. 1945. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 54 The marsupial genus Pseudocheirus and its subgenera. American Museum Novitates 1287: 1-30 [11 June 1945] [17].

  Type data:

   Holotype AMNH 107275 ♂ adult skin & skull, Mt Spurgeon, QLD.

Generic Combinations

• Pseudochirulus cinereus (Tate, 1945). —
  Murray, J.D., McKay, G.M., Winter, J.W. & Ingleby, S. 1989. Cytogenetics of the Herbert River ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus herbertensis (Diprotodontia: Pseudocheiridae); evidence for two species. Genome 32: 1119-1123

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, folivore, nocturnal, tropical.

General References

Murray, J.D., McKay, G.M., Winter, J.W. & Ingleby, S. 1989. Cytogenetics of the Herbert River ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus herbertensis (Diprotodontia: Pseudocheiridae); evidence for two species. Genome 32: 1119-1123

Nix, H.A. & Switzer, M.A. (eds) 1991. Rainforest Animals: Atlas of vertebrates endemic to Australia's wet tropics. Canberra : Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 111 pp. [Kowari]

Winter, J.W. 1984. Conservation studies of tropical rainforest possums. pp. 469-481 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Daintree River Ringtail Possum)

History of changes

• Phalangista herbertensis Collett, R. 1884. On some apparently new marsupials from Queensland. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 381-389 pls 29-32 [1 Oct. 1884] [383].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1884.8.19.3 ♀ cast of skull, tops of Ranges, ca. 25 km W of Cardwell (as Herbert Vale), QLD; UZMO 684 ♂ skin & skull, tops of Ranges, ca. 25 km W of Cardwell (as Herbert Vale), QLD.

  Type locality references:

  Lumholtz, C. 1884. Notes upon some mammals recently discovered in Queensland. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1884: 406-409.
• Pseudochirus mongan De Vis, C.W. 1887. On a new or rare vertebrate from the Herbert River, North Queensland. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 2 1: 1129-1135 [22 Feb. 1887] [1130].

  Type data:

   Lectotype AM M1032 ♀ adult skin & skull, Herbert Gorge, near Herberton, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [94].
• Pseudochirus herbertensis colletti Waite, E.R. 1899. Description of a ring-tailed possum regarded as a variety of Pseudochirus herbertensis, Collett. Records of the Australian Museum 3: 91-93 [17 Apr. 1899] [92].

  Type data:

   Lectotype AM M436 ♀ adult skin, skin not removed & skull not removed, Herberton district, QLD.

  Subsequent designation references:

  McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [92].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• McKay, G.M. 1988. Petauridae. pp. 87-97 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [94]

Generic Combinations

• Pseudochirulus herbertensis (Collett, 1884).

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

From Ingham north to Thornton Peak.

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, folivore, nocturnal.

General References

Crowe, O. & Hume, I.D. 1997. Morphology and function of the gastrointestinal tract of Australian folivorous possums. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 357-368

Haffenden, A. 1984. Breeding, growth and development in the Herbert River possum, Pseudocheirus herbertensis herbertensis (Marsupialia: Petauridae). pp. 277-281 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Laurance, W.F. 1990. Effects of weather on marsupial folivore activity in a north Queensland upland tropical rainforest. Australian Mammalogy 13: 41-47

Laurance, W.F. & Laurance, S.G.W. 1996. Response of five arboreal marsupials to recent selective logging in tropical Australia. Biotropica 28: 310-322

Murray, J.D., McKay, G.M., Winter, J.W. & Ingleby, S. 1989. Cytogenetics of the Herbert River ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus herbertensis (Diprotodontia: Pseudocheiridae); evidence for two species. Genome 32: 1119-1123

Spear, R., Haffenden, A.T., Daniels, P.W., Thomas, A.D. & Seawright, C.D. 1984. Disease of the Herbert River Ringtail, Pseudocheirus herbertensis and other North Queensland rainforest possums. pp. 283–302 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Springer, M., McKay, G., Aplin, K. & Kirsch, J. 1992. Relations, among ringtail possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae) based on DNA-DNA hybridisation. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 423-435

Williams, S.E., Bolitho, E.E. & Fox, S. 2003. Climate change in Australian tropical rainforests: an impending environmental catastrophe. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (B) 270: 1887-1892

Winter, J. 1991. Mammals. pp. 43-54 in Nix, H.A. & Switzer, M.A. (eds). Rainforest Animals: Atlas of vertebrates endemic to Australia's wet tropics. Canberra : Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 111 pp. [Kowari]

Winter, J.W. 1984. Conservation studies of tropical rainforest possums. pp. 469-481 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Winter, J.W. & Atherton, R.G. 1984. Social group size in north Queensland ringtail possums of the genera Pseudocheirus and Hemibelideus. pp. 311-319 in Smith, A. & Hume, I. (eds). Possums and Gliders. Sydney : Surrey Beatty & Sons, Australian Mammal Society 598 pp.

Winter, J.W. & Goudberg, N.J. 1995. Herbert River Ringtail Possum Pseudochirulus herbertensis. pp. 250-252 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Herbert River Ringtail Possum)

History of changes