SURPRISE IN THE POUCH - A CASE OF ADOPTION IN THE COMMON BRUSHTAIL POSSUM (TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA)

dc.contributor.authorEymann, Juttaen
dc.contributor.authorNeaves, Lindaen
dc.contributor.authorEldridge, Mark D.B.en
dc.contributor.authorCooper, Desmond W.en
dc.contributor.authorHerbert, Catherine A.en
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-01T12:41:27Z
dc.date.available2026-01-01T12:41:27Z
dc.date.issued2007en
dc.description.abstractThe common brushtail possum (Trichosums vulpecula) is usually a strictly monotocous species, presenting one offspring at a time. Two concurrent offspring is a rare occurrence, but twin pouch young or young spaced one oestrous cycle apart have been reported. We investigated the biology of urban T. vulpecula populations within the Sydney metropolitan area between November 2002 and April 2005. As part of these studies, we trapped one adult female T. vulpecula with two young. Analysis of morphological data from the young and development of the female's mammary gland suggest that only one young was her offspring. The results of genetic analysis support this conclusion. Herewith, we describe an apparent case of adoption in T. vulpecula.en
dc.description.sponsorshipWe thank all householders for giving access to their Properties and their support, especially Jan Tent. This research was approved by Macquarie University Animal Ethics Committee (Permit no. 2002/022) and New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation (Permit no. S11336). JE is the recipient of the international Macquarie University Research Scholarship (iMURS), LN is in receipt of a Macquarie University Research Award for Areas and Centres of Excellence (RAACE) scholarship. This research was supported by the Macquarie University 'Higher Degree Research Fund'.en
dc.description.statusPeer-revieweden
dc.format.extent6en
dc.identifier.issn0310-0049en
dc.identifier.otherORCID:/0000-0002-5626-1029/work/162952760en
dc.identifier.scopus84880475383en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1885/733800247
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsPublisher Copyright: © 2007 CSIRO. All rights reserved.en
dc.sourceAustralian Mammalogyen
dc.subjectmarsupialen
dc.subjectmaternal careen
dc.subjectmicrosatellitc locien
dc.subjectmother-young behaviouren
dc.subjectoffspringen
dc.subjectrelatednessen
dc.subjectreproductionen
dc.subjecttwinsen
dc.titleSURPRISE IN THE POUCH - A CASE OF ADOPTION IN THE COMMON BRUSHTAIL POSSUM (TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA)en
dc.typeJournal articleen
dspace.entity.typePublicationen
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage68en
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage63en
local.contributor.affiliationEymann, Jutta; Macquarie Universityen
local.contributor.affiliationNeaves, Linda; Macquarie Universityen
local.contributor.affiliationEldridge, Mark D.B.; Macquarie Universityen
local.contributor.affiliationCooper, Desmond W.; University of New South Walesen
local.contributor.affiliationHerbert, Catherine A.; University of New South Walesen
local.identifier.citationvolume29en
local.identifier.doi10.1071/AM07007en
local.identifier.purec2cc5273-807b-4892-ab52-7104f5998e4ben
local.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84880475383en
local.type.statusPublisheden

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