Possums and Cuscus

This group includes six families of the order Diprotodontia. That is all the possums and cuscus, the pygmy possums and the gliders.

Possums are native to Australia, New Guinea and Sulawesi (Indonesia), they are a quite diversified group of arboreal marsupials that are also primarily nocturnal. The food they eat varies greatly throughout the range of species, from nectar and fruit to insects.

Sugar gliders are omnivorous arboreal nocturnal marsupials that have a gliding membrane or patagium extending from the front of the hind legs to the back of the fore legs which allows them to glide, in order to escape predators or search for food.

Cuscus are just large possums, which primarily eat leaves, the family includes the common brushtail possum which really makes the brushtail possum a cuscus. They don’t have claws on the back feet, but do have an opposing toe to aid in climbing.