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Scent glands of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 05:32 authored by Stuart McLeanStuart McLean
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is an important browsing herbivore in its native Australia and in New Zealand, where it has become a major introduced pest. Possums exhibit marking behaviour, and have specialised scent glands, indicating that they use olfactory communication for social interactions. This review summarises what is known of the scent glands of the possum and some other marsupials. Although the anatomy and histology of the glands has been welldescribed, the composition of their secretions is only beginning to be characterised, and very little is known about their physiological control and role in possum biology.

History

Publication title

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

Volume

41

Pagination

193-202

ISSN

0301-4223

Department/School

School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Place of publication

PO Box 399, Wellington, New Zealand

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 The Royal Society of New Zealand

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Marine biodiversity

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    University Of Tasmania

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