Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	DIPROTODONTIA	PSEUDOCHEIRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Species Authority:

(Boddaert, 1785)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Common Ring-tailed Possum, Common Ringtail Possum, Queensland Ringtail

Taxonomic Notes:

Pseudocheirus occidentalis is often considered to be conspecific with P. peregrinus (e.g., Groves 2005). It is treated as a separate species here following the advice of the IUCN SSC Australian and Melanesian Non-volant Mammal Specialist Group.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Winter, J., Menkhorst, P., Lunney, D. & van Weenen, J.

Reviewer/s:

Lamoreux, J. & Hilton-Taylor, C. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, lack of major threats, and because its population is not in decline.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Australia, where it is widespread from Cape York south through eastern Australia, to south-eastern Australia as far west as south-eastern South Australia (McKay and Ong 2008). It is present on the island of Tasmania and also on many offshore islands (e.g., Fraser Island).
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is common, though very sparse on the Cape York Peninsula.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is a nocturnal species, found in many habitat types ranging from tropical moist forest and temperate forest, coastal scrub, to rural gardens and urban areas. The female gives birth to one or two litters of two young annually (McKay and Ong 2008).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There appear to be no major threats to this species. There may be some localized declines due to inappropriate fire regimes, bushfires, clearing of land, and predation by domestic cats and dogs.

Major Threat(s):

There appear to be no major threats to this species. There may be some localized declines due to inappropriate fire regimes, bushfires, clearing of land, and predation by domestic cats and dogs.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is present in many protected areas. Further studies are needed into the taxonomy of this species.

Conservation Actions:

It is present in many protected areas. Further studies are needed into the taxonomy of this species.

Citation:	Winter, J., Menkhorst, P., Lunney, D. & van Weenen, J. 2008. Pseudocheirus peregrinus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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