Dominant and subordinate behaviour of captive brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Abstract

Brushtail possums are generally solitary animals. They use a range of olfactory, auditory, visual, and tactile behaviour to achieve spacing between individuals and to establish dominance hierarchies. Existing descriptions of possum behaviour are either not widely available or incomplete, and the function of dominance hierarchies is unclear. Data presented here were collected incidentally during observations of captive possums to determine the effects on dominance status of suppression of reproduction for biological control. Dominant and subordinate behaviour are described and reviewed. The top‐ranking possums in dominance hierarchies were always females. Dominant possums displaced subordinates from food, water, and dens. In our captive setting, only dominant males attempted to mate with females, but dominant and subordinate females produced a similar number of pouch young. In the wild, where resources are limited, we predict that dominance behaviour should limit the frequency and success of breeding by both subordinate males and females.

Keywords:

• Trichosurus vulpecula
• brushtail possum
• behaviour
• dominance hierarchies