Organism project. Brushtail Possum. By Alex Warde - Watson

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1 Organism project Brushtail Possum By Alex Warde - Watson

Brushtail possums eat bugs, seeds, fruit and even bird eggs and small lizards.

2 Introduction The common brushtail possum is an Australian mammal, they live throughout the eastern, northern and sometimes western parts of Australia, they are tree dwelling animals. Brushtail possums eat bugs, seeds, fruit and even bird eggs and small lizards. Brushtail possums have a long black bushy tail, large pointed ears and a small pink nose. They have sharp claws so they can hold onto branches. They have a thick coat of wooly fur that varies in colour. They can be silver - grey, brown, black or cream.

Habitat Brushtail possums live in Australia, they are found

live in Tasmania and some western regions.

3 Habitat Brushtail possums live in Australia, they are found throughout the eastern and northern parts of Australia, they also live in Tasmania and some western regions. Brushtail possums usually live in forests but they can also be found in urban areas. Sometimes they are even found in treeless areas. They make their homes in hollow trees and are known for living on roofs of houses and sheds.

Changing habitats Brushtail possums live in trees so they are affected when people/ companies cut down trees and ruin plants because it forces possums (and other animals) to move because their

4 Changing habitats Brushtail possums live in trees so they are affected when people/ companies cut down trees and ruin plants because it forces possums (and other animals) to move because their shelter and food sources are taken away from them. When Brushtail possums find homes in roofs and around urban areas they are usually taken away by exterminators and pest control because they can be a threat to humans, pets and property.

5 Ecosystem When brushtail possums are living in urban areas they might interact with humans and pets. Possums can easily give diseases to humans, including lyme disease, leptospirosis, rickettsia and mycobacteriosis. When living in the bush possums usually live in trees or caves, they call this their den. Possums have to compete with other animals and possums for a den. Brushtail possums communicate with clicks, grunts, hisses and screeches.

Food chains Brushtail possums eat flowers,

6 Food chains Brushtail possums eat flowers, shoots, fruits and seeds. They also eat animal matter such as insects, birds eggs and small vertebrates e.g small lizards and frogs. Although they prefer Eucalyptus leaves Brushtail possums can adapt to numerous types of vegetation.

7 Food webs

8 Dichotomous key Brushtail Possum: Animal Mammal Marsupial Australian four legs Tail Whiskers Pouch Brushtail possum Cockatoo Eagle Moose Is Australian Isn't Australian Brushtail possum, Cockatoo, Kangaroo Four legs Less than four legs Brushtail possum Cockatoo, Kangaroo Bird Cockatoo Kangaroo Eagle, Moose Four legs Moose Not a bird Kangaroo Less than four legs Eagle

9 Taxonomy - Species profile Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Class - Mammalia Order - Diprotodontia Family - Phalangeridae Scientific name - Trichosurus vulpecula Common name - Common Brushtail possum

10 M.R.S G.R.E.N M.Yes Brushtail possum: R.Yes A Brushtail possum is a type of possum, Brushtail possums move from tree to tree to get around but they also walk along the ground, they have lungs so they breathe oxygen to respire. Brushtail possums are sensitive to the environment. They live can live up to 13 years in the wild. Male and female possums mate and have a single joey. Possums excrete by going to the toilet on the ground and in trees. They eat fruit, nuts and insects to get nutrition. S.Yes G.Yes R.Yes E.Yes N.Yes

CLASSIFICATION The common brushtail possum is a mammal, which means they have live young, fur and are warm- blooded. They are nocturnal, like most possums.

11 CLASSIFICATION The common brushtail possum is a mammal, which means they have live young, fur and are warm- blooded. They are nocturnal, like most possums. They are also vertebrates which means they have a spine. Brushtail possums are marsupials which is an animal that is typically carried in a pouch when they are young and are native to Australia.

chains / webs. I also learnt the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates.

12 CONCLUSION Whist doing this project I learnt a lot about the common brushtail possum and living organisms. I have learnt about what classification means and how to classify an animal, what a dichotomous keys is and I have expanded my knowledge on food chains / webs. I also learnt the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates. Before this LA I did know about scientific names and how there was groups of animals but I didn't know the name for it (taxonomy) and I didn't know the names of the groups, in class I learnt a strategy to help me remember kingdom, phylum etc.

13 BIBLIOGRAPHY References Australiazoo.com.au. (2016). Mammals at Australia Zoo. [online] Available at: [Accessed 4 Sep. 2016]. Bird Gard Australia. (2015). Top 10 Facts About Possums in Australia Bird Gard Australia. [online] Available at: [Accessed 4 Sep. 2016]. Greenfacts.org. (2016). Glossary: Habitat change. [online] Available at: [Accessed 4 Sep. 2016]. Parks.tas.gov.au. (2016). Parks & Wildlife Service - Brushtail possum. [online] Available at: [Accessed 4 Sep. 2016]. Wikipedia. (2016). Common brushtail possum. [online] Available at: [Accessed 4 Sep. 2016].

Field Guide: Teacher Notes

Field Guide: Teacher Notes Bob Winters Classification Objectives After completing this activity, students will be able to: Investigate how living things are classified. Group, or classify organisms according