Scent glands of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

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 well-described, 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.