Trichosurus
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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Trichosurus
(brush-tailed phalangers), a genus of mammals of the family Phalangeridae. The length of the body ranges from 30 to 60 cm, and of the tail, from 25 to 35 cm. The animals weigh from 1 to 5 kg. The coat is soft and silky. The tail is well-furred and prehensile. These phalangers are distributed in Australia and Tasmania and have been introduced into New Zealand. Tree-climbing animals, they usually live in mountain forests; sometimes they inhabit unforested areas and semideserts. They also dwell in gardens and city parks. The animals feed on young shoots, leaves, blossoms, fruits, and, at times, insects. A single offspring is born in May or June and carried in the pouch for four to five months.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.