Overview
The Mountain Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus cunninghami), also known in indigenous folklore and vernacular speech as the Bobuck, is a large, heavily built arboreal marsupial native to the misty montane forests of southeastern Australia. Distinguishable from the common brushtail possum by its shorter ears, shorter tail, and luxurious charcoal-grey fur, it is an essential resident of ancient mountain ash woodlands.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
The Mountain Brushtail Possum has dense, woolly fur ranging from smoky silver-grey to deep charcoal, with a pale cream underbelly. Its ears are short, rounded, and thickly furred to conserve warmth in cold montane winters. It possesses a strong prehensile tail with a naked, calloused underside on the tip that acts as a secure anchor while climbing slippery tree canopies.
Behavior and Ecology
Nocturnal and arboreal, the Bobuck spends daylight hours asleep inside deep, naturally formed tree hollows of ancient mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans). Unlike the often solitary common brushtail, mountain brushtails form long-term, socially stable monogamous or small polygynous pairs that share communal tree hollows and maintain overlapping territories for over a decade.
Conservation and Human Impact
Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, the species is nonetheless highly vulnerable to clear-fell logging and high-severity bushfires that destroy hollow-bearing eucalypt trees. Because mountain ash trees require 120 to 150 years to develop suitable hollows, the loss of mature forest stands represents a severe long-term limiting factor.
Interesting Factoid
A Mountain Brushtail Possum can live for over 15 years in the wild—nearly twice as long as other possums—forming devoted partnerships that share the exact same hollow eucalyptus tree for life.