Australia is home to over 30 possum species — from the adaptable Common Brushtail thriving in urban backyards to the critically endangered Leadbeater's Possum clinging to the mountain ash forests of Victoria. This page will visualise citizen science and research data to map their presence across the continent.
Possum species in Australia
Possums per hectare in cities
Natural range
Map shows occurrence records (reported sightings), not true species distribution.
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Observations per cell:
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1 001 - 10 000
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Common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are widespread across mainland Australia, Tasmania, and have been introduced to New Zealand.
Found in forests, woodlands, heathlands, and urban areas. Highly adaptable — one of the few marsupials that thrives alongside human settlements.
Density varies from <1 per hectare in arid zones to 5-10 per hectare in suburban gardens with abundant food sources.
Primarily nocturnal, emerging 30-60 minutes after sunset. Activity peaks between 9 PM - 2 AM - exactly what our backyard camera captures.
Common Brushtail
Trichosurus vulpecula
Mainland AU, Tasmania, NZ
Common Ringtail
Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Eastern & SW Australia
Mountain Brushtail
Trichosurus cunninghami
SE Australia (VIC & southern NSW)
Leadbeater's Possum
Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
Central Highlands, VIC
Scaly-tailed Possum
Wyulda squamicaudata
Kimberley, WA
Australia's national biodiversity database aggregating museum records, government surveys, and citizen science into a unified API.
